Floods kill over 161,000 livestock and poultry in Chattogram region

Recent floods have caused an estimated Tk 771.5 million (Tk 77.15 crore) in losses to the livestock sector across Bangladesh's Chattogram region, killing more than 161,000 livestock and poultry, according to a post-flood assessment by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).

The report shows that the floods affected 191 unions in 45 upazilas across five districts, with total losses amounting to Tk 771,502,240.

Chattogram district suffered the worst damage, accounting for Tk 600.68 million in losses. Cox's Bazar recorded losses of Tk 135.39 million, followed by Rangamati (Tk 29.98 million), Khagrachhari (Tk 3.7 million), and Bandarban (Tk 1.75 million).

Dr Muhammad Izmal Hasan, Deputy Director (Veterinary Public Health) of the Chattogram Divisional Livestock Office, said the damage assessment was prepared based on field-level data collected after the floods.

According to the report, 10,991 farms were affected, including 4,756 livestock farms that sustained losses worth Tk 175.57 million and 6,235 poultry farms that incurred damages of Tk 197.3 million.

The floods also destroyed 910 tonnes of concentrated animal feed, 14,265 tonnes of straw, and 9,129 tonnes of grass, with the total value of the lost feed estimated at nearly Tk 350 million.

A total of 161,394 animals died in the floods, including 71 cattle, 165 goats, 50 sheep, 158,600 chickens, and 2,508 ducks.

Meanwhile, the disaster left 223,390 cattle, 4,755 buffaloes, 160,087 sheep, 2.85 million chickens, and 70,370 ducks sick across the five affected districts. The Department of Livestock Services said treatment and other necessary veterinary support are being provided to the affected animals.