Indonesian cattle breeders grapple with fast-spreading foot and mouth disease

Veterinarians inspecting a cow for signs of foot and mouth disease in Indonesia’s Lampung province. - COURTESY OF NANANG PURUS SUBENDRO

JAKARTA (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Late last month, livestock farmer Sulistiyanto observed that two of his 12 cattle had lost their appetite. As a precaution, he isolated them in another shed covered tightly with tarpaulin.

Within days, their saliva was foamy, and their tongues and feet blistered. To relieve the symptoms, he sprayed turmeric and citric acid liquid on their mouths and legs.