Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has urged livestock farmers to be vigilant and take all necessary steps to curb cattle deaths linked to Theileriosis, commonly known as January Disease, which is now a threat throughout the year.
Speaking during a recent visit to Wanezi in Insiza District, Matabeleland South, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, said farmers need to regularly dip their animals and apply tick grease for effective protection against diseases.
Zimbabwe has about 5,7 million cattle with 90 percent under small holder farmers. About 60 percent of the cattle are found in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
Dr Masuka said measures by Government such as the Presidential Tick Grease Programme were meant to capacitate farmers in protecting their animals against diseases. He said the Presidential Household Tick Management Programme was introduced to cater for women who were struggling to apply tick grease on animals.
“We want farmers to dip according to the set regime and then also apply pour-on to complement dipping. Government will provide pour-on for all farmers and we have to utilise it,” he said.
“We don’t want to lose any cattle and we should work collectively so that we can eradicate this disease. It’s known as January Diseases as it used to affect animals in January but now it’s being recorded throughout the year,” said Dr Masuka.
“Vigilance now has to be throughout the year and it’s possible to eradicate this disease. Losing cattle to diseases is unacceptable, given that we have access to services of veterinary officers. Livestock rearing is a business and should, therefore, be treated as such.”
Dr Masuka said in times of need, farmers should be prepared to sell beasts to raise resources to save their herd because livestock farming is a business.
“We are an agro-based economy as Zimbabwe and we should, therefore, support it. It’s agriculture that will make us realise Vision 2030,” he said.
Dr Masuka said key strategies adopted by Government to promote livestock production include preventing diseases and ensuring animals have adequate water and pastures. He said for these strategies to be successful there is a need for farmers to play their part.
Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director, Dr Enat Mdlongwa, stressed the importance of adhering to dipping schedules, particularly in January Disease hotspots where a strict “5-5-4” dipping regime must be followed.
He said farmers in other areas should dip their animals weekly until April.
Under the 5-5-4 dipping regime, livestock should be dipped every five days for two cycles, followed by a four-day interval before resuming the five-day schedule.
Mr Mdlongwa said after the four-day interval, farmers should apply pour-on before reverting to the five days. He said the January Disease now occurs in three phrases, with the first being recorded in January while a second phase is recorded during winter and the third phase is recorded during the hot season.
“The challenge that we have is that some farmers are not taking dipping seriously. Farmers should adhere to the dipping regime and they need to ensure that all their animals are taken for dipping,” he said.
“We also have a challenge of some farmers who are not using pour-on. Some farmers think that if they take their animals for dipping there is no need for pour-on.” — @DubeMatutu.
