Ear infection among cattle worries farmers around B'luru; Milk yield of infected cows drops by half
Bengaluru: Dairy farmers in the regions of Ramanagara and Kolar, located near Bengaluru Urban district, are facing a growing concern as their cattle are developing otitis (ear infection), which has started affecting milk production.
Infected cows are struggling to feed properly, leading to reduced milk yield, as reported by The New Indian Express on Saturday.
The State Animal Husbandry Department, along with Bangalore Milk Union Ltd (BAMUL) and Veterinary College, Bangalore of Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Science University, have teamed up to investigate the symptoms and causes of the infection.
Prof. Veeregowda BM from the Veterinary College explained that the infection causes pus formation in the cows’ ears, primarily affecting the left ear. “The affliction affects nerves, leading to staggering gait, lack of coordination, discharge from the ear and nostrils, sleeping on one side and other symptoms,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Cows find it difficult to eat or digest and a few have starved to death. It has been noted that cattle infected last year are showing symptoms again. The milk yield of infected cows has plummeted to half. This is the third consecutive year that otitis outbreaks have been reported in the Bengaluru area, particularly in regions like Anekal, Kanakapura, Sarjapur, Srinivasapura, Mulabagl, Ramanagara, Kolar, and their surroundings.
The infection typically appears during the rainy season, from July to October, but this year, it has become more contagious. However, there have been no reported cases of human infection. The joint team of experts is studying the potential causes of the disease, including whether it originates from soil, water, ticks, or flies.
P. Srinivasu, Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, mentioned that treatment has been initiated according to the expert panel, and the disease is currently under control.
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Karnataka approves AI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru's Electronics City
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has approved the establishment of a CoE for AI in Biotechnology at IBAB in Electronics City (Phase 1), here.
The decision, taken by the state Cabinet on Thursday night, marks a significant step towards strengthening Karnataka’s leadership in emerging technologies, IT and biotechnology, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Friday.
The centre will be established over four years with a total outlay of Rs 20 crore, in partnership with the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), according to a statement from the minister’s office.
"Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation. As we enter the decade of deep tech, our focus is on building future-ready capabilities at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biotechnology," Minister for IT and Biotechnology said.
"This Centre of Excellence will strengthen our research ecosystem, accelerate innovation and enable Karnataka to lead in high-impact next-generation technologies," he added.
Priyank added that the state government, through the Departments of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology, is actively investing in emerging technologies and taking steps to strengthen Karnataka’s AI and deep-tech ecosystem.
The minister said the Cabinet has also approved the transfer of a 51 per cent stake in the Karnataka Technology & Innovation Museum Foundation (KTIMF) to the Unboxing BLR Foundation.
KTIMF was established by the Government of Karnataka as a not-for-profit organisation to promote innovation, technological awareness, startup culture and public engagement in science and technology, aligned with the state’s vision of building a robust innovation ecosystem, he said.
The Technology & Innovation Museum will be developed at the NGEF campus in Baiyappanahalli, Bengaluru, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with a total project cost of Rs 100 crore. Of this, Rs 49 crore will be contributed by the state government and Rs 51 crore by the private partner, he said.
