Reports that cattle have been struck by different kinds of disease in Canacona and Ponda talukas is disturbing news for the 180-odd dairy societies in the state, as well as for the Goa Dairy, which already imports most of its milk from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka. A mysterious disease has been slowly but steadily killing a number of cattle at Veling-Priol and Kundaim in Ponda taluka during the past fortnight, prompting veterinary officials to urge dairy farmers to get their cattle vaccinated. Strangely though, in other places, these vaccinations have been reported to be counterproductive. Dairy owners say that many of the cattle that were vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Canacona taluka were infected with a surprisingly similar disease, within days of the vaccination. Ironically, they claim, the non-vaccinated cattle in the same area are healthy. Unhappy dairy farmers have accused government veterinary doctors of failing to attend to their ailing animals. This needs looking into, but in a number of cases, veterinary officials seem in no hurry to get these diseases analysed as quickly as humanly possible. Blood samples are generally sent to a laboratory, leaving dairy farmers anxious, frustrated and helpless. Identifying and treating diseases among cattle is one hurdle, but containing malpractices in the profession is quite another challenge for the state government. A few years ago, some veterinary doctors were accused of faking cattle autopsies in Canacona taluka, to enable dairy farmers claim compensation for fictitious bovines. The modus operandi was simple. Dairy farmers would approach banks for loan, deposit 20 per cent of the amount, and get a sanction from the insurance company. Cattle were then