City’s dairy animals reel under sharp drop in temperature
   Date :25-Dec-2025

Citys dairy animals reel under sharp drop in temperature
 
 
By Shashwat Bhuskute :
 
  • Cold wave hits livestock across rural belts
  • Veterinarians urge strict winter advisory 
 
With minimum temperatures falling sharply across Nagpur district, dairy animals and backyard livestock are increasingly showing signs of stress. Over the past week, the cold wave has intensified in rural belts around Saoner, Kalmeshwar, Hingna and parts of the city’s fringe. According to Dr Shashikant Pawar, an Akola-based Veterinarian, cattle, calves, goats, sheep and poultry are at greater risk of respiratory infections during this season. Sudden exposure to cold winds can lower immunity, making livestock vulnerable to pneumonia, fever, cough and digestive complications.
 
“These animals are identical to us humans, they too function slowly in winter and are also exposed to the risk of dehydration, which in turn transforms into other diseases that are highly volatile to these cattle.” Poultry farms, particularly those without insulated sheds, face higher mortality due to direct wind exposure. Dr Pawar has urged farmers to modify cattle-shed conditions to retain warmth. Measures such as installing cloth curtains, covering sheds with sacks at night, keeping fodder storage warm, and ensuring dry bedding can significantly reduce illness.
 
Special care has been advised for newborn calves and small animals, which are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Farmers have also been asked to avoid giving cold water in the early mornings and late evenings and to provide clean, nutrient-rich fodder. Vaccination and immediate consultation with the nearest veterinary centre are recommended if symptoms appear. “Cold weather significantly compromises the immunity of dairy animals,” said Dr Pawar. “Owners must stay vigilant throughout the winter to prevent infections and safeguard milk productivity.”
 
High Court’s directives fall on deaf ears
A distressing trend that appears around the city regarding the dairy animals has been prevalent lately. Even after High court directives to safeguard the health of the dairy animals, it is largely seen that the cattle owners leave their cattle on roads or let them roam freely around the city which in turn has brought a dangerous trend of cattle dying in road accidents. Cattle owners who fail to erect enough space in their cattle sheds leave their cattle outside who eventually mate and birth an offspring, if the offspring is a Cow it is taken into the shed and if not is left out on the road to survive on its own, which increases the number of cattle on the roads which are susceptible to road accidents, fights amongst other cattle and many issues which could be curbed with some vigilance around the city.