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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
Farmers have now moved from indifference to helping to rehabilitate dip tanks, seeing the major advantages these offered when it comes to combating January disease and other tick-borne infections.
Department of Veterinary Services chief director Dr Josphat Nyika said the Government was on a drive to revive all the non-functioning dip tanks and everyone now agreed that the best way to fight the spread of the January disease was to dip cattle regularly.
The department has rehabilitated 327 dip tanks and is planning to rehabilitate 511 dip tanks this year.
He said it is Government’s policy to resuscitate all non-functioning dip tanks to fight the spread of tick-borne diseases and already the results are being seen with notable reduction in cattle dying from tick-borne diseases.
He also advised farmers to do weekly dipping during this time, adding that in areas where January disease remains a challenge, dipping should remain on a 5 -5- 4 regime which entails dipping cattle after five days and another five days and then after another four days.
He said every farmer was required by law to take their cattle for dipping since it was an offence not to do so.
“We are on a spree to resuscitate dip tanks. We need to put those that are not functional to function so we are in a blitz to resuscitate all the dip tanks in the country so that they are fully functional. Government has mobilised resources for the programme.
“The reason for this programme is to ensure that we protect cattle from tick-borne diseases. Dipping chemicals are in stock to ensure that livestock is protected from tick-borne diseases and farmers should take livestock rearing as a serious business,” he said.
To make sure that the January disease does not spread, the Government was also pushing and rolling out the tick grease programme which proved to be a game changer following the 5-5-4 dipping regime and in between dipping, farmers are recommended to apply and smear tick grease to their animals.
Farmers are keen to see the dip tanks back and are participating in the rehabilitation of all non-functional dip tanks. They are working very well to protect their cattle from tick-borne diseases.
A farmer in Macheke, Mr Taurai Mangwiro has embarked on renovating dip tanks so that farmers can take their cattle for dipping.
He said farmers risk losing cattle to diseases that arise from not dipping their animals, hence the decision to construct dip tanks in the area.
“It is important for farmers to appreciate the Government’s effort of issuing subsidised dipping chemicals as they go a long way in the fight against ticks and tick-borne diseases,” construction of dip tanks.
“We want to thank our fellow farmers and the Government for the vision to construct dip tanks to reduce cattle deaths due to ticks,” he said.
Mrs Maggy Munyoro of Zvimba said it is critical for farmers to continue working hand in hand with authorities to ensure that livestock is protected from tick borne diseases.
“This is a critical issue which must not be ignored because we lost thousands of cattle due to tick borne diseases. The majority of us were left with nothing hence we appreciate the Government efforts to provide material which we are using to safeguard the livestock,” she said.
More than 4 000 dip tanks have been constructed since 2021, setting the country on course to have sufficient infrastructure required to curb theileriosis and other cattle diseases. The Government intends to construct 5 000 dip tanks by 2025.
Online Reporter