1.Plea to halt cultivation of Bt hybrids - The Hindu
2.PRESS RELEASE - Deccan Development Society
3.Goats/Sheep mortality after grazing on Bt Cotton fields: 2007 - Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
4.Preliminary Assessment Report from a Field Visit:
Mortality in Sheep Flocks after grazing on Bt Cotton Fields - Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
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1.Plea to halt cultivation of Bt hybrids
The Hindu, 4 February 2007
http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/04/stories/2007020417070300.htm
Hyderabad: The Deccan Development Society (DDS) has asked the Government to declare a moratorium on the cultivation of Bt hybrids until a comprehensive study is undertaken on the possible impact of Bt hybrids on environment, livestock and human health.

In a statement, M. Abdul Qayuum and S. Kiran, DDS scientists, said the deleterious affects of Bt cotton on livestock have resurfaced in Warangal district. In Gammadavelli village, symptoms appeared more on the goats compared to sheep. Bloating of stomach, mucous flow from nostrils, reddish urination were some of the symptoms. Besides, some shepherds also had bloating of stomach and skin allergies in the neck region, the release said.
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2.PRESS RELEASE, 03.02.2007
The Deccan Development Society

While last year reports of cattle mortality are still fresh, this year again Bt cotton raises its ugly head. The deleterious affect of Bt cotton on livestock starts to re-surface in Warangal district.

Recently, we visited Gammadavelli village in Lingala Ghanapur mandal and Dowlatnagar village in Parvatagiri Mandal of Warangal district and interacted with the affected farmers and shepherds.

In Gammadavelli village symptoms appeared more on the goats compared to sheep as goats graze on the left over branches, twigs, opened bolls (after removing the cotton) -except the main stem it feeds on almost all parts of the plant; whereas sheep prefers grasses over cotton stalks.

The following were the symptoms observed by shepherds in the Gammadavelli village of Lingala Ghanapur.

Bloating of the stomach; mucous flow from nostrils- initially mucous appears greenish white and turned to reddish colour mucous; urination also in reddish colour, pennings mixed with reddish mucous making the penning in the form of a chain as against the pellets in a healthier goats; and to some extent sneezing. All the goats and sheep were given treatment. Few goats which are still suffering looked sluggish compared to the healthier ones. The neck portion of the goats which are still suffering looks very slender and weak.

According to the farmers, when the chest and the abdomen of dead goats was cut open, the lungs looked reddish in color and became harder, as if some clotting occurred inside. They observed some black patches on the intestine, the inner contents of the small intestine should look yellowish in colour, but they were green in colour. Even the re-gurgitation process was also not good in the animals which showed the disease symptoms.

In Dowlathanagar of Parvathigiri mandal, goats showed symptoms of skin allergies. Severe hair loss on the upper side of the neck giving an allergic look was prominently observed in 10% out of the flock of 500. The severity varies in the different animals. As reported in Gammadavelli village in Lingala Ghanapur, shepherds of this village also reported bloating of the stomach, skin allergies at the neck region and on the body; sluggish movement of the animals.

In addition to the above affects on the livestock, the Bt cotton also has its toll on the laborers employed for picking the cotton from the fields. Two women who were engaged in cotton picking from Bt fields reported skin allergies on their hands and around their waist. These women reported skin allergies around their waist and on their hands.

In view of the recurring problems, the DDS demands that the government, must declare a moratorium on the cultivation of Bt hybrids until a comprehensive study is undertaken taken on the possible impact of Bt hybrids on environment, livestock and human health.

M. Abdul Qayuum
Scientist, DDS

S.Kiran
Scientist, DDS
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3.February 2, 2007

To
Shri Bir Singh Parsheera & Dr Ranjani Warrier,
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee [GEAC]
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex
Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

Dear Sir/Madam

Sub: Goats/Sheep mortality after grazing on Bt Cotton fields - 2007

We would like to bring to your immediate attention the phenomenon of sheep and goats getting affected after grazing on Bt Cotton fields this year too. We have come across such phenomenon that shepherds have reported [including mortality of some animals] from two different locations in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh in the past ten days.

We would like to refer to a letter that we had sent to GEAC, along with Anthra (an NGO working on livestock issues) on July 28th, 2006 around the time that the GEAC had stopped systematically investigating into the sheep death phenomenon and are reported to 'have finally brushed aside the allegations' as per the media, in which we specifically cited from data that we had collected under Right to Information from various concerned agencies which investigated into the phenomenon.

We would also like to recall Shri Kantilal Bhuria's statement in the Parliament on 14/8/2006 wherein the AP government is supposed to have admitted to death of 132 sheep after grazing in Bt Cotton fields.

Unfortunately, no follow-up action is apparent from the concerned authorities, including the GEAC. The GEAC had instructed the DBT to conduct special studies on the matter and to this day, no such study is evident and open for scientific scrutiny which would conclusively explain what the shepherds/farmers are experiencing on the ground.

Even in the Bt Brinjal biosafety data presented by Mahyco, the goat feeding studies have shown statistically significant changes in the haemotological as well as clinical parameters (the Sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity Test on Goats for 90 days).

It has been pointed out last year that the reports poured in quite late after the actual mortality and morbidity of animals. This year we are alerting you with the very first reports that we have come across and demand an immediate investigation. Our preliminary assessment report is given below.

Sincerely

Kavitha Kuruganti
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
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4.Preliminary Assessment Report from a Field Visit:
Mortality in Sheep Flocks after grazing on Bt Cotton Fields

Villages Visited : Jidikal & Gummadivally;
Lingala Ghanapuram [mandal]; District Warangal.
Shepherds interacted & Sheep flocks examined : Chilver Kumar & Dandi Ailaiah
Date of Visit : 29th of January 2007 (preliminary visit by CSA personnel on 25th January).

Objective:

To investigate and assess high mortality of sheep reported by shepherds of local area after grazing on Bt Cotton fields.

Team Members:
Shri Dharmender, Agriculture Scientist, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad;
Shri Bhikshapathi, Coordinator, CROPS, Jangaon;
A practicing Veterinary Doctor.

Observations

Dandi Ailaiah is a shepherd having 100 Nellore sheep and 50 local goats. He grazed his sheep and goat on 7 acre of his own Bt. Cotton (Bt Bunny) field for three consecutive days around the 10th of January. After 3 to 4 days of continuous grazing (around two-three hours a day) on these fields, 25 sheep and 5 goats fell seriously sick. Even after treatment with the help of local veterinarians, 5 sheep and 2 goats died. When they were told that the mortality could be because of the grazing on Bt Cotton fields, he and other shepherds in the village stopped the grazing of their sheep on these fields.

The farmer has applied 2 bags of DAP, one bag of urea and one bag of 20:20 per acre, during June month (2006). No pesticides were sprayed on the crop during this season.

Another shepherd, Chilver Kumar having a flock size of 65 sheep also reported that his animals were affected after grazing on Bt Cotton fields. Out of eight affected sheep, one sheep died. At the time of the visit, we could not find any sick animal and there were no deaths in the flock.

The major clinical symptoms which were noted by shepherds include:
1. Dullness of affected sheep
2. Swelling of eyelids
3. Swelling of ear and face (slightly) also
4. Some times salivation
5. Bloat
6. Nasal discharge with blood tinge
7. Coughing
8. Blackish diarrhoea with foul smell
9. Haemoglobinurea / Red colour urine

The deaths started suddenly after three days after grazing on Bt Cotton fields.

It was mostly young sheep between 1 to 2 years and lambs of 4 to 5 months that were vulnerable and affected. After the treatment of affected sheep, they became weak and required 2 to 3 weeks to get relief from the symptoms.

Both of them Shri Dandi Ailaiah and Shri Chilver Kumar conducted post mortem on their own dead sheep and reported the following:
1. Blood dark or coffee brown / blackish in colour
2. Discolouration of ruminal content
3. Black patches in the small and large intestine
4. Both intestines are boiled in appearance and very easily broke into pieces
5. Lungs somewhat blackish, hard and boiled in appearance
6. Liver is also hard and with black patches
7. Spleen slightly enlarged

Other flocks affected: Earlier, a visiting team of CSA was shown some sick animals on 23rd January 2007 in Daulatnagar village of Parvatagiri mandal of Warangal district. The shepherds here like Cheemala Kumaraswamy, Doodaiah, Ilaiah, Kandikuntla Komaraiah etc., were also reporting that the animals were affected with a similar set of symptoms upon grazing on Bt Cotton fields. Here also, mortality of goats and sheep was reported.

Discussion & Diagnosis

The symptoms and the post-mortem lesions stated by the shepherds do not correlate to or resemble different diseases that are prevalent/common during this period, which are distinguished by shepherds also.

1. Sheep Pox
The succession of papules, vesicles and pustules appearing on various parts of body, combined with febrile reaction are characteristic symptoms of this contagious disease.

2. Contagious Ecthyma
It is a viral disease affecting primarily the lips and characterized by formation of papules and the pustules and pilling up of the thick scabs. Usual course of disease is 1 to 4 weeks.

3. Peste Des Petits Ruminants [PPR]
�P �nThe affected sheep show sudden rise of body temperature
�P �nRestlessness
�P �nDry coat
�P �nDry muzzle
�P �nMuco purulent nasal discharge
�P �nRespiratory distress
�P �nBroncho pneumonia
�P �nCough
�P �nNon hemolytic diarrhea
�P �nThe postmortem lesion is zebra markings in small intestine.
�P �nMortality is 90 percent

Occasional outbreaks in group of sheep and goat in Warangal district of A.P. is reported by CSA and others since last year. There is poor response to standard treatment and symptoms are insufficient. Hence, laboratory assistance is necessarily required for confirmation of sheep dying most probably with a correlation to grazing on Bt Cotton fields.

HYPOTHESES:

There are two-three possible hypotheses about the phenomenon being witnessed here:

that the phenomenon is not connected to cotton at all. If it is not connected to cotton at all, but is a new disease or something similar, the departments responsible and institutes involved should show evidence for the same by pointing out what is the new disease, what is causing it, what is its connection with animals grazing on cotton and so on.

that the phenomenon is connected to Cotton crop in general and not just Bt Cotton. If it is not connected to Bt Cotton but is related to cotton in general, the institutes involved should clearly produce evidence as to why this phenomenon was not seen before the advent of Bt Cotton and should also produce evidence to show how it is linked to non-bt Cotton also.

that it is because of Bt Cotton there could be plant physiological changes taking place (like nitrate accumulation) which could be a direct result of changed agronomic practices (like more chemical fertilizers being applied to Bt cotton, as farmers are repeatedly reporting) or because of a basic alteration of the bio-chemistry of the Bt cotton plant due to the technology of genetic engineering adopted.

that it is because of alteration in digestive processes within the animal after ingestion of Bt Cotton due to changed bio-chemistry of the plant, due to changed microbial activity within the animal guts etc.

CSA'S DEMANDS

We demand that the following investigations and activities be taken up immediately by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC in the Ministry of Environment & Forests), Animal Husbandry department [GoAP], the Agriculture department [GoAP], ANGR Agriculture University (Veterinary College as well as other relevant disciplines), Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Veterinary Biological Research Institute and the IVRI to pursue this systematically and scientifically.

Alert the Animal Husbandry department personnel at the ground level in all Bt Cotton growing belts to look out for any unusual morbidity and mortality in sheep and goats and other animals. Confirm through case history whether the symptoms match any known disease during this period of the year and whether vaccinations have been administered to the affected flocks for that disease (in case such vaccination has been administered, the phenomenon should be all the more worrisome). Such cases should be immediately brought to the notice of the JD-AH and Director, AH Department in Hyderabad within 24 hours. (these are cases that are routinely reported by the shepherds themselves but observed with more alertness and care to check for correlation with Bt Cotton)

Send special teams to fan around the large Bt cotton growing belts with high sheep/goat population too and do a special rapid appraisal on whether any flocks have been affected - check symptoms for any known diseases, vaccination routines and also check for grazing patterns and possible correlation to Bt Cotton. (these are cases where a pro-active appraisal of the situation is launched)

Collect Bt Cotton samples along the grazing route of the animals during the period that they fell sick as well as soil samples where the Bt Cotton leaf samples are picked up. Also collect blood samples of the affected animals, along with blood samples of unaffected animals which have not been grazed on Bt Cotton.

With the Bt Cotton samples :
analyse for pesticide residues,
analyse for nitrates and nitrites and compare against normal levels for cotton in those areas,
analyse for cyanide,
analyse for gossypol build up.

In each case, the Bt Cotton sample should first be confirmed for its Cry1Ac presence. Samples of non-Bt counterparts sown as refuge should also be collected from the grazing route, checked for presence of Bt endotoxin and analysed for the same above.

Similarly, the soils should be tested for nitrate and nitrite content. A comparative picture of the Bt Cotton samples and non-Bt Cotton samples for the above parameters should be put out.

With the blood samples :
Analyse for any bacterial, fungal or viral diseases
Analyse for pesticide residues
Analyse for nitrates and nitrites
Analyse for cyanide
Analyse for anti-bodies related to Bt toxin

A comparative picture of the affected and unaffected animals should be drawn based on such analysis.

A questionnaire-based survey should be conducted with all shepherds/goatherds whose flocks have been affected by the phenomenon. This survey should be able to understand whether cotton grazing normally has caused such symptoms and problems or is it happening only after the advent of Bt cotton on a large scale, the observations of the shepherds about the symptoms found, the results of the local post-mortem that shepherds themselves tend to do in case an animal is dying or dead and so on.

We also demand that GEAC, Animal Husbandry Department and Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University should explain what actions they have taken in the last one year when similar complaints were made.

Meanwhile, it is the responsibility of the agriculture and animal husbandry departments to pro-actively put out material alerting farmers and shepherds about the phenomenon and asking them not to graze their animals on cotton fields especially Bt Cotton fields (until a conclusive explanation is provided for what is being experienced and witnessed by farmers/shepherds on the ground, connected to grazing on Bt Cotton), asking them to report the phenomenon immediately to the department etc.