Farmer Gopal GC of Mashyam in Tinau rural municipality is unhappy as his six cows didn't get pregnant even after an extended gestation period this year.

His cows suffered from lumpy skin disease last year. Veterinary doctors have suspected that the disease could have affected the animals' gestation period. In some areas, milk productivity has sharply dropped after the disease inflicted on the cows.

“Lumpy skin disease is under control, but it has caused lasting problems in our animals,” said GC.

The disease killed over 50,000 cattle and infected nearly 1.5 million in Nepal last year.

“Many cows in our village did not conceive the first time. And even if they are impregnated through artificial insemination, calf mortality is high,” said GC. “The milk yield from infected cattle has also declined sharply.”

Many farmers conducted costly artificial insemination on their cattle repeatedly. But the result has been disappointing.

Farmers say their cattle received vaccines against the disease on time but now another problem has appeared.

“Cows, which used to give 18 litres of milk daily, are now giving 12 litres,” GC said.

Farmers associated with Dumre Dugdha Krishi Sahakari Sanstha have also said they have cut on milk sold to the cooperatives.

GC used to sell 200 litres of milk daily, which now has fallen to 150 litres.

Farmers used to sell 3,500 litres of milk to the local cooperatives, but the volume t has declined to 2,200 litres.

Bhim Kharel of Padmetari in Tansen Municipality-6 said he is in deep trouble. His cows are also facing the same problem as GC’s.

“I have been rearing a hybrid. It’s expensive. I am worried it might become infertile,” said Devi Bahadur Rana of Chinari, Baughapokharathok in Tansen-12.

Nearly 20 calves and cows of farmers associated with Chinari Milk Production Cooperatives died of lumpy skin disease last year. Many fell sick.

“It resulted in a reduced milk output in the village,” said Tikaram Thapa Magar, chairman of the cooperative.

The cooperative used to collect 900 litres of milk daily, which now has dropped significantly. The cows affected by the disease last year produce less milk.

Many cows have wounds in the udder, said Rukbir Reshmi Magar, a farmer in Baughapokharathok.

The lumpy skin disease caused huge losses last year, reducing farmers' income.

Infertility and low output have become serious issues now. According to a veterinary doctor, such problems have been reported in many other districts too.

In Palpa, 6,676 domestic animals are affected by the lumpy skin disease. According to the District Veterinary Hospital, 365 livestock died last year.

Durga Prasad Khanal, chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Center, said livestock have yet to fully recover after the lumpy skin disease.

The immune and reproductive systems of the diseased cattle have been affected, said Dr Nabin Bashyal, a veterinary doctor.

Cows that recovered from lumpy skin disease have the problem of infertility, he said. The vets are not sure whether it is a long-term problem or a temporary one.

According to them, livestock infected with lumpy skin disease have been weakened. “To reduce the long-term impact, animals need proper feeding and care,” said Bashyal.

The situation has become alarming but the government has done nothing about it, farmers say.

Many farmers have called for urgent measures to resolve the problem before it could devastate farmers and the dairy industry.

Lumpy skin disease spread in all 10 municipalities of Palpa. It killed 75 cows in Bagnashkali, the biggest casualty, followed by 68 in Purbakhola, 47 in Tansen Municipality, and 45 in Rainadevi Chhahara.

Elsewhere in the district, 25 cows died in Nishdi, 24 in Mathagadhi, 18 in Ribdikot, 12 in Rampur municipality, 11 in Tinau rural municipality, and 5 in Rambha municipality, according to the District Livestock Expert Centre.

Lumpy skin disease infected 1,336 livestock in Purbakhola rural municipality. As many as 840 suffered from the disease in Ribdikot, 804 in Bagnashkali, 800 in Rainadevi Chahara, 700 in Mathagadhi and 650 in Nishdi.

The disease was found in 525 cows in Tansen municipality, 507 in Tinau rural municipality, 260 in Rampur municipality and 157 in Rambha rural municipality.

More than 4,000 livestock received treatment, officials said. They developed lumps in various parts of the body, had high fever, and suffered swelling.