alappuzha dairy farmers and poultry farmers suffered huge losses in the floodravaged state milk production came down by 17000 litres per day in the alappuzha districtanimal husbandry departments ahd district officer p c sunilkumar said out of 600 cows killed in the flood over 510 were productive cows though many cows survived the flood their milk production has come down drastically following they were affected by various disease like mastitis and stress he saidhowever following the shortage of food and grass for cattle the dairy farmers in kuttanad were forced to sell their milking cows at lower prices which were inevitable part of their life for the past many years a 51yearold dairy farmer bhuvanachandran thekke chavara kainakary said he has two cows and a calf he got 50 kg cattle feed free of cost from the government two weeks back but it could be served only for seven days for his cows and now he is buying cattle feed paying higher price the price of 50 kg cattle feed is rs 960 it is not affordable all the grass in our village vanished in the flood and the government should take steps for allotting more free cattle feeds otherwise we may be forced to sell our cows as the milk production has come down following various health issues all our cows are under depression and the doctors are not giving any advice to us and medicines for our cows to overcome this current situation now a cow which produced at least nine litre milk per day is producing only four litre milk he said according to animal husbandry department 660 cows perished in the flood creating a loss of rs 394 crores over 104 cows went with flood waters creating a loss of rs 674 lakh over 258 heifers were killed causing a loss of rs 3856 lakh and 189 claves also perished creating a loss of rs 181 lakh in flood at least 1399 goats and 120696 chickens died creating a loss of 9637 lakhs and rs 139 crore respectively around 94888 ducks perished creating a loss of rs 141 crore 1250000 ducks eggs were damaged in the flood creating a loss of rs 75 lakh over 4501 quail were swallowed by flood waters creating a loss of rs144 lakhs the animal husbandry department officials said the district suffered a heavy loss of rs 140115709 due to the death of domestic animals and birds in the flood in the districtthe dairy farmers will overcome the present condition and the milk production will go high we are providing all the help for saving the life of surviving cows and medicines and treatments are available in all the veterinary hospitals if a dairy farmer faces any problem he or she can call their veterinary doctor concerned and we would provide all the care and treatment to their animals said the district officer of ahd