Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Mutare Bureau
GOVERNMENT is distributing chemicals and tick grease to Manicaland Province to contain the spread of Theileriosis, also known as January Disease, which is threatening the provincial herd, particularly in communal areas.
Manicaland Provincial Veterinary Director Dr Takunda Chikaka said the Government had started distributing dipping chemicals and officers are applying the Bolvac vaccination in hot spots with positive results, as deaths have been contained.
He said they had so far vaccinated 12 000 cattle and intensified awareness campaigns educating farmers on the need to regularly dip and vaccinate their livestock as a preventative measure.
“Our response to the January disease is through an integrated tick and tick-borne disease control strategy, where we are dipping, applying bolvac vaccination and also resistance testing,” said Dr Chikaka.
“Currently, we are in the process of receiving dipping chemicals ad so far we have managed to disburse to Makoni and Buhera districts. We are anticipating more deliveries to the rest of the province.“Bolvac vaccination has been ongoing and we have been targeting the hot spots within the province, especially Mutare, Makoni, Nyanga and Chimanimani.
“Our staff is on full force on the ground, vaccinating cattle. We are in the process of managing the outbreak. We have also made efforts to carry out awareness campaigns in every district. Our staff have been instructed to share knowledge, especially when it comes to control strategy, what farmers are expected to do and the drugs to use to manage the outbreak.
“All districts have been affected. We have various dip tanks that have been placed under quarantine. Farmers are also encouraged to observe the quarantine orders and avoid movement of cattle until the quarantine orders are lifted.”
There have been calls for tight monitoring of farmers, particularly those from communal areas, as some of them do not stick to dipping calendars and rarely vaccinate their livestock and this has been blamed for the outbreaks of diseases.
Headlands livestock farmer Mr Raymond Sakutukwa said the Government should come up with punitive measures on farmers who do not dip their cattle, as their actions affect others.
“Our neighbours are communal farmers and some of them do not dip their cattle, yet they let them stray into our farms,” he said.
“This exposes the livestock of farmers who adhere to dipping and vaccination regimes. Stringent measures should be taken against farmers who do not follow laid down procedures. Livestock is very important and integral to agribusiness success and must be protected.”
