In a significant stride toward strengthening the livestock sector, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu officially unveiled a groundbreaking vaccine to combat Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in cattle at the AI Tech 2.0 Conference on Animal Husbandry, held in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
The vaccine, named Bio Lumpy, has been developed by Biovet, a subsidiary of Bharat Biotech, and is being hailed as the world’s first and safest Diva-Marker vaccine for LSD. The launch marks a key advancement in India’s animal health ecosystem, especially in the dairy industry, which has faced severe disruptions due to the disease.
Game-Changer for Dairy Farmers
Speaking at the event, CM Naidu lauded Biovet for developing a vaccine that meets global quality standards, and emphasized its potential to revitalize the dairy industry, which is a crucial livelihood for millions of rural families. He extended special congratulations to Bharat Biotech’s Chief Development Officer Dr. Rechus L and credited Biotech Executive Chairman and Biovet founder Krishna Ella for the visionary effort to create indigenous solutions rather than relying on imported vaccines.
Scientifically Advanced and Locally Developed
Biovet officials explained that the vaccine was created using the LSD virus/Ranchi/2019 vaccine strain provided by ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines (NRC), Hissar. They also confirmed that the vaccine has received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
The Diva-Marker feature allows vaccinated animals to be differentiated from infected ones, enabling more effective disease surveillance and control.
Economic Impact and Urgency
Lumpy Skin Disease first entered India in 2019, but its most devastating outbreak occurred during 2022–23, claiming the lives of over 2 lakh cattle and inflicting losses worth ₹20,040 crore on the animal husbandry sector.
LSD causes high fever, painful skin nodules, bleeding from insect bites, reduced milk yield, and reproductive issues in infected animals—often leading to death if untreated.
Production Capacity and Nationwide Rollout
To meet the growing demand, Biovet is set to manufacture 50 crore doses annually, well above the estimated national requirement of 30 crore doses. The vaccine is recommended for cattle and buffaloes above three months of age, administered once a year for three consecutive years. Global studies have shown this regimen to be effective in eliminating the disease, as seen in several European nations.
Leadership and Industry Participation
The launch event was also attended by Biovet CEO Srinath, Vice President (Commercial) Balaji Rao, Executive Director Dr. Srinivasulu Kilari, and HR Head Amulya, along with other dignitaries and experts in veterinary health.
