adminPrecious Manomano
Herald Reporter
The veterinary department, in collaboration with the anti-stock theft police unit, are geared to embark on some intensified national cattle branding programme starting next month, targeting about two million cattle this year.
Winter is optimum period for branding as risk of wound infection and myiasis is low due to low fly activity associated with the low temperatures.
Branding activities have been going on since the beginning of the year, albeit at a slow pace because during the rainy season the risk of infection and maggots in wounds is high.
The cumulative number of cattle branded to date is over 111 000, which translates to about 6 percent of the target.
Flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds, resulting in maggots in the wounds.
Acting deputy director of Veterinary Field Services Dr Reverend Spargo said the department was now proceeding at full throttle and the department will be branding cattle across the country to identify cattle to dip tank or farm of origin.
“National cattle branding season is now upon us as the winter season sets in,” he said. “Just like the War Against January Disease which has been a huge success, the Veterinary Department in collaboration with anti-stock theft police unit will be launching the national cattle branding programme in all provinces and districts to raise awareness on the importance of the programme in safeguarding the national herd from unbridled disease spread as well as stock theft,” he said.
Cattle branding serves to provide animal identification and traceability systems which facilitates the animal movement controls, busting illegal cattle movements and stock theft.
Branding of cattle is done in accordance with the Animal Health (Livestock Identification) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 35 of 2003 which makes veterinary brands mandatory with only dairy and stud herds exempted.
Individual farmers are allowed to register their own personal brand marks for their cattle.
This is done in accordance with the Brands Act (Chapter 19.03) administered by Registrar of Births and Deaths in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The personal brand marks are voluntary as opposed to the veterinary brands.
Director of Veterinary Field Services Dr Jairus Machakwa said cattle branding was key in reducing stock theft, adding that farmers were encouraged to ensure cattle were branded for easy identification and to enhance recovery after thefts by rustlers.
“Illegal livestock movements have been a fair cow, fuelling the spread of livestock diseases such as January disease and the national cattle branding programme seeks to stifle this vice, that is threatening the viability of livestock industry,” he said.
International standards in the trade of livestock and livestock products demand that products be traceable to the farm of origin.
Chief Director Veterinary Services Dr Nyika said livestock identification through cattle branding and ear tagging facilitated access to high value regional and international markets as the livestock products will be traceable from fork to farm.
“We want to revive the exportation of beef to other countries but we can only achieve this through a sound cattle identification and traceability,” he said.
He said that a robust animal identification and traceability system was the cornerstone for the success of the initiative to address lack of finance, one of the key constraints to livestock production.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development is working with stakeholders in the financial sector towards the collateralisation of livestock — that is the use of livestock to pay back bank loans.With a livestock herd of over 5,6 million and at an average of US$400 per beast, it translates to the value of US$2,24 billion that can be unlocked to ensure growth and sustainable transformation of the sector.
Head of Police Anti-stock Theft Unit Assistant Commissioner Ezekiel Munengerwa urged farmers to cooperate to reduce stock theft.
He said it was critical for farmers to brand their cattle to reduce incidences of auctioning of stray cattle by councils, adding that it was also crucial for traceability incidences.
“We encourage farmers to brand for traceability reasons,” he said. “It helps us to trace the identity and search for the owner in cases of theft or even straying. When we visit the abattoirs we can also ascertain if the animal was bought within the confines of the law.”
Branding of cattle is not only done in Zimbabwe, but in the whole of the SADC region because of cross-border theft of livestock.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter