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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
ABOUT 700 cattle succumbed to Theilerosis while about 200 animals died from black leg in Matabeleland South last year.
Theilerosis, a cattle disease also known as January Disease which was usually recorded in Mashonaland provinces, Manicaland, Midlands and Masvingo.
Black leg which is formally known as quarter evil is usually on the increase during the rainy season.
Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director, Dr Enat Mdlongwa said his department has intensified a sensitisation programme to raise awareness on the two deadly diseases and other diseases.
Dr Enat Mdlongwa
He said farmers have to dip their animals every week while those in the Theilerosis hotspots have to adhere to the 5-5-4 dipping regime system. He said farmers also have to vaccinate their animals against black leg.
Dr Mdlongwa said some farmers were not monitoring their animals as they leave them for days in grazing areas.
“This is the time of the year when we get a spike in Theilerosis popularly known as January Disease. We also have an increase in black leg cases.
“This disease affects animals when they are in good condition. Last year we recorded plus or minus 700 deaths from the January Disease and 189 cases from the black leg. These figures are alarming considering that there are measures in place to ensure animals are protected from these diseases,”.
“A challenge that we have is that farmers leave their animals to stay in grazing areas for days and they only collect them when they are taking them for dipping. Even if an animal falls sick its owner can’t treat it as it’s left unsupervised. If farmers could keep their animals in kraals overnight then they can monitor them. Kraaling animals is important especially when we have diseases like Theilerosis. We are moving around sensitising farmers on the importance of dipping,” he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said some farmers were not adhering to set dipping regime. He said the province has enough acaricide to last up to June and farmers had to fully utilise it.
“The only way to eradicate the diseases which have been affecting animals is through effective dipping of animals. These diseases are now cutting across provinces because of poor dipping services,” he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said farmers are also supposed to prioritise dipping and dosing their goats as they can also succumb to these diseases. He said some farmers were neglecting the upkeep of goats. He said there were a number of goat dip tanks in various wards which were being underutilised.–@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter