Assessing the vulnerability and economic burden of lumpy skin disease on indigenous and exotic cattle in Sindh, Pakistan

This study assesses the impact of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) on cattle farming practices in Sindh, Pakistan, focusing on farmers' knowledge and the direct and indirect losses incurred.The research was conducted across various regions chosen for their diverse climatic conditions, livestock farming practices, and cattle population density.A cross-sectional survey, spanning January to December 2022, involved 4221 farmers from selected districts using multistage sampling.Data on farmers' knowledge, practices, and the direct and indirect impacts of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) were analyzed through descriptive statistics and uni-variate logistic regression.Exotic breeds exhibited a higher vulnerability to LSD, with 57.1% of losses occurring in this group, compared to 18.0% in indigenous breeds.Exotic cattle farms experienced significant losses, with 9.2% mortality and a 22.1% decrease in milk yield.Indigenous breeds had lower mortality (5.5%) and milk yield losses (14.7%).Indirect losses due to vaccination and treatment costs were more burdensome for exotic cattle farms, with 55.2% of treatment costs and 73.7% of vaccination expenses incurred by these farms.Overall, the findings indicated the greater vulnerability of exotic cattle to Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), with higher mortality, milk yield losses, and financial burdens for vaccination and treatment compared to exotic cattle breeds.This study demonstrated high direct and indirect losses and vulnerability in exotic cattle breeds compared to indigenous breeds, impact of the financial strategies and LSD management practices.