TIRUPATI: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has dismissed reports of an alarming spike in cattle deaths at Sri Venkateswara dairy farm in Tirupati and maintained that the average death-toll of cattle at the dairy farm remains more or less the same when compared to the yesteryears.
Speaking to reporters in Tirupati on Monday, TTD EO J Syamala Rao clarified that about 15 cattle deaths are reported on an average every month at the SV dairy farm and that thorough postmortem is conducted in cases of unnatural cattle deaths.
“Last year in 2024, about 179 cattle deaths were reported at the SV dairy farm, while about 43 cattle deaths were reported in the first three months of 2025. The most common reasons for cattle deaths include certain non-curable diseases and age related issues. Significant to note here is the fact that the birth-rate at the SV dairy farm is on a slightly higher note with 59 calves born in the first three months of 2025”, TTD EO noted.
Dismissing allegations of mis-administration levelled by former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, Syamala Rao underlined that numerous vigilance reports pertaining to 2021-2024 have brought to light serious issues of irregularities, neglect and corruption at the SV dairy farm which coincides with Bhumana’s and others tenure as the TTD chiefs in the last five years.
The violations at the dairy farm highlighted by the vigilance reports include serving of maggot-infested fodder and discarded maize silage being served to the cattle, use of expired drugs and unhygienic conditions prevailing in the cattle sheds. Purchase of grass, fodder at higher prices for the SV dairy farm, causing a financial loss to the TTD to the tune of Rs.1 cr was also exposed by the vigilance enquiry in 2021 itself.
Accusing the previous TTD dispensation of not acting upon the irregularities at the SV dairy farm exposed by the vigilance dept, Syamala Rao slammed the former TTD chief for trying to resort to an unethical propaganda of spreading baseless facts over cattle deaths at the SV dairy farm now.
“While they did absolutely nothing to set things right at the Goshala, the new TTD administration has streamlined the systems of fodder procurement, improving the sanitation standards and most importantly to fill up existing vacancies at the dairy farm. While 9 posts of veterinary doctors has been sanctioned, four vacancies exist and we have initiated the process of filling up all vacancies across all cadres very soon”, TTD EO asserted.
Slamming some sections of the media and the opposition for trying to mislead the devotees and the common public over the cattle deaths at the SV Goshala with the help of morphed pictures and videos, Syamala Rao maintained that the TTD trust board will soon take a decision with regards to initiating criminal proceedings against everyone involved in this malicious campaign against the TTD.
