In connection with the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in Slovakia, Hungary, and parts of Austria, the crisis team of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague met on Monday, March 31. Although this disease does not pose a significant threat to humans, it can cause enormous economic damage and damage to the gene pool. The university has more than 1,500 animals susceptible to the disease in its breeding. The most valuable are the breeding herds, the threat of which would lead to the loss of the gene pool.
“We have been cooperating with the State Veterinary Administration from the beginning. At the beginning of March, we introduced preventive measures in all our breeding farms on campus and within the CZU Farms regarding possible risks. If the disease were to spread, we would incur immeasurable economic damage to breeding and milk. At the same time, we would lose valuable breeding herds and the gene pool,” explains the chairman of the CZU crisis team, university bursar Jakub Kleindienst.
In all CZU facilities where animals susceptible to infection are located, mats for disinfecting tires and soles have been installed, mobile showers are planned for employees who have to move near the farms, visits by veterinarians are limited to the necessary minimum, student internships have been terminated, and entry near the farms is strictly prohibited. The operation of the milking machine at Požáry has been terminated. Cattle are not released to pasture, and intensive cooperation is underway with other farms in the area.