FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE ON CATTLE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals including cattle and it remains one of the biggest economic threats to agriculture and other sectors. This disease is endemic and it will contribute to the loss of work efficiency in draught animals in developing countries and sanctions on exports of animals and animal products. Thus, this study is to identify the most observed FMD symptoms among cattle by farmers in Peninsular Malaysia. By including six states in Peninsular Malaysia, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 349 cattle farmers from April and October 2018. Using descriptive analysis, result demonstrated that the main FMD symptom observed by farmers of their cattle in Peninsular Malaysia was drooling (95.4.%), a loss of appetite (77.7%) and blisters on tongue, lips, mammary glands and around mouth and hoof (67.9%). As the FMD is one of the most highly infectious diseases among cattle, learning of the FMD symptoms earlier, will assist the cattle farmer to take fast effective action to reduce the spread and impact of FMD outbreaks. Aside from this, it can help in addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2, end hunger, achieved food security and improve access to nutrition.