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Agriculture Reporter
WITH the trial period almost over for a vaccine to control ticks, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is optimistic the serum will achieve the desired results of containing tick-borne diseases.
Director of Veterinary Services Dr Jairus Machakwa yesterday told this publication that the vaccine trials were almost concluded and the department was eagerly awaiting the results to determine the outcome and its readiness for use.
“Rigorous scientific evaluations are being conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Trials have been and are being carried out in 30 hotspots across the country, with the initial testing commencing in Makoni district in Rusape last year,” Dr Machakwa said.
He assured the public that no adverse effects had been reported to date, adding that any claims regarding the vaccine’s effectiveness would be based on the trial outcomes.
He also commended the Government for implementing a comprehensive set of measures in 2019 to protect cattle from tick-borne diseases. There has since been a consistent decrease in both the number of cases and deaths associated with these diseases.
“Although we are at the peak period of January disease, the current trend points towards a significant reduction in cattle losses compared to previous years. This positive development is attributed to the Government’s proactive measures aimed at safeguarding the national herd.
“To support these efforts, the Government has allocated funding for the supply of dipping chemicals from 2019 until now. These chemicals have been procured and distributed free of charge to all areas ensuring that farmers have access to the necessary resources for tick control,” he said
Dr Machakwa urged farmers to continue regularly dipping their cattle in their respective areas given that sufficient chemicals have been procured.
“Currently, 4 181 dip tanks are functional and we encourage cattle owners to take proactive steps in safeguarding the health of their livestock and ensuring a prosperous future of our agriculture communities,” added Dr Machakwa.
He commented on the use of knapsacks for spraying cattle, saying farmers who choose to use them should use the battery-powered ones.
Dr Machakwa further explained that workers using manually powered knapsacks on A2 farms tend to become fatigued and may not thoroughly eliminate ticks potentially leaving them on the animals.
Online Reporter