Shillong, Oct 5: ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), West Garo Hills conducted a method demonstration on vaccination of chicks against Ranikhet disease using Ranikhet Disease Virus (RDV) vaccine through intranasal route at Chekwatgre village on Monday.
Ranikhet disease, also known as Newcastle disease, is a viral disease affecting poultry and causes substantial economic losses due to respiratory distress, nervous signs and high mortality. Chicks are particularly susceptible.
The first RD vaccination is generally administered at 3-6 days of age with one drop through intraocular or intranasal route. The demonstration was organised to create awareness and build farmers’ skills to vaccinate easily at farm level.
A total of 242 Kamrupa chicks were vaccinated by KVK expert Dr Sagarika Borah during the programme. The day-old chicks had earlier been distributed among farmers by KVK on trial basis to assess performance of Kamrupa breed under backyard poultry production systems in Garo Hills.
The programme gave farmers practical knowledge and hands-on experience in chick vaccination, encouraging better poultry health management and reducing risk of disease-related losses in backyard farming.
