Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccination Campaign to Cover 238,000 Cattle in Malatya

October 6, 2026 · Tarım TV

Veterinary teams have been deployed across 13 districts in Malatya as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's vaccination schedule, aiming to inoculate 238,000 cattle during the autumn period.

Within the scope of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Animal Disease Control and Vaccination Program, autumn period efforts are in full swing across Malatya. Veterinary teams affiliated with the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry have taken to the field in the province's 13 districts, working diligently to protect cloven-hoofed animals. The aim is to vaccinate approximately 250,000 animals throughout the year, thereby securing livestock activities in the region through ongoing preventive health practices.

Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Osman Akar, shared details of the campaign, stating that efforts against foot-and-mouth disease are conducted in planned periods, namely spring and autumn. Emphasizing that the vaccination period can extend up to three times a year in some critical regions, Malatya Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Osman Akar noted the following regarding field targets:

Addressing the detrimental impact of the foot-and-mouth virus on animal health, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Osman Akar stated that the disease spreads very rapidly among cloven-hoofed species. Akar explained that in the early stages of the disease, animals exhibit significant lethargy, ruffled fur, and rapid weight loss. He further noted that in later stages, excessive salivation occurs in the mouth, along with sores developing in and around the hooves. This condition reportedly leads to severe losses and decreased productivity, particularly in young animals.

Drawing attention to the virus's transmission dynamics, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Osman Akar indicated that contagion is not limited to direct contact alone. Akar stated that the pathogen can also be rapidly transmitted through respiratory routes, wind, equipment, contaminated feed, and shared grazing areas, underlining that there are currently no active foot-and-mouth disease cases in Malatya. Akar urged all producers to strictly adhere to the vaccination schedule to maintain the current disease-free status.

Ismail Hırçıl, a cattle farmer operating a 700-head capacity farm at 50% capacity in Kuşdoğan Neighborhood of Yeşilyurt district, also emphasized the importance of vaccination. Ismail Hırçıl, a cattle farmer, stated the following:

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