The cumulative population of sheep and goat in Chhattisgarh stood at 33.91 lakh as per the 18th cattle census which is 17 per cent more than the previous year, Animal Husbandry Department officials here informed. The State Government’s Animal Husbandry Development Department conducted a state-wide vaccination drive last month to save goats from PPR disease (a disease caused in goats by viral infection) and have vaccinated nearly 29.30 lakh goats free of cost. Under this drive, total 1576 vaccination teams were formed that visited 17,255 villages across the State to vaccinate the goats. In rural areas, people practice goat rearing for milk and meat. PPR is a major disease found in goat species. This disease causes death of 70-80 per cent of the goats suffering from viral infection. Symptoms of this disease include flu, reddishness on face, rashes, high fever etc. When this epidemic strike rural areas, the owners sell their goats on cheaper prices at a huge loss. Officials told that during the last four years, Animal Husbandry Development Department has conducted a state-wide vaccination campaign to control this disease. The Central government has also included this campaign in the National Agricultural Development Plan of year 2012-13. Under this 12-day campaign, 1576 teams were formed and the state was divided into 216 sectors. These teams visited 17, 255 villages of Chhattisgarh to collect information about the disease. Meanwhile, 29.30 lakh goats were given anti-PPR vaccine.