STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF YOKE GALL, ITS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENT IN BULLOCKS
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Date
2005-08
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
Yoke gall refers to inflammatory swelling of skin and subcutaneous tissue on the dorsal aspect of the neck in draught animals. This condition results due to continuous friction of yoke placed on the neck of the animal while pulling the bullock cart or ploughing implements. In spite of mechanization, large section of Indian agriculture depends on bullocks for land cultivation and transport of farm materials. Though the experts say that the ‘draft power’ of bullocks is not properly exploited in India and the average working days of animals is limited to few months in a year, in reality, they are extensively used at a stretch without rest for few days during monsoon. This leads to work induced surgical disorders such as sprain, arthritis and yoke gall.
Yoke gall is one of the common surgical affections in bullocks. According to Prof. N. Ramaswamy, former chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India and Present Director, CARTMAN, one million cattle are slaughtered every year due to yoke gall condition. However, yoke gall is not such a disease that cannot be cured. Because it is a work induced disease and can recur if animal is repeatedly used, the farmers tend to sell their bullocks to others or for slaughter purpose instead of providing a prolonged treatment during their busy time of ploughing or harvesting. Another reason for disposal of large number of animals is absence of effective and well informed network of animal health care in remote villages. Also there is no single effective treatment for all types of yoke gall. It is a general practice observed in field that iodine ointments or anti-inflammatory injections (non steroidal and steroid) are given to treat all types of yoke gall. A hard ‘chronic tumor’ type of yoke gall or an ulcerative-chronic type of yoke gall will not respond to above mentioned treatments. Farmers generally get frustrated if quick remedy is not provided to their problems as daily presentation of animals for treatment and money spent do not yield proper solution.
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