Government to reduce cattle mortality rates to 5 percent

Elton Manguwo

Government is working on reducing cattle mortality from six to five percent this season to grow the national herd to six million by year end.

Officiating at the 2023 Annual Irrigation Indaba held in Harare on Thursday, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera said the various programmes initiated in the livestock subsector were set to reduce cattle mortality.

“Doing away with diseases that affect cattle growth is a key aspect of our growing the cattle herd count in line with the Livestock, Recovery and Growth Plan,” he said.

The country’s cattle industry has seen a two percent decline in cattle mortality rates from 11 percent recorded in 2020 to nine in 2021 to six percent in 2022 as dipping was reported to be adequate in 67 percent of the 1 562 rural wards.

According to the First Round of Crop, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA 1) report, the positive growth is attributed to a fairly good season for livestock and a reduction in mortalities, especially due to the decline in tick-borne diseases.

“In response to various Government programmes the country’s cattle herd is up by two percent from 5 509 983 in 2021 to 5 642 400 in 2022 as the country targets a six million cattle herd by end of this year,” said Dr Basera.

Government has declared war on Tick-borne diseases after the country lost 500 000 cattle to the diseases.

Government implemented programmes such as the dip tank resuscitation programme, the Presidential blitz tick grease programme and the local manufacturing of vaccines.

One million kilogrammes of tick grease were distributed to farmers under the programme.

“The decline in cattle mortality rate is a result of the Government’s livestock recovery and growth plan taking effect in combating tick-borne related diseases,” said Dr Basera.

During the 2023 National budget presentation Finance and Economic Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube revealed the Government earmarked $6,6 billion for the construction, dip tank rehabilitation, surveillance and control as well as vaccination programmes.

“The effective implementation of these programmes will result in the reduction of cattle mortalities and will promote higher production, productivity and profitability in the livestock subsector,” he said.