By Shingirirai Mutonho
STAKEHOLDERS in livestock production, a key component of the agriculture sector, continue to make efforts to improve growth of the sector.
However, during the last summer cropping season, livestock producers were severely affected by drought.
According to the Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development ministry, cumulative livestock deaths as a result of the recent drought are more than
20 000.
Sadly, the numbers continue to increase with the most affected areas being Masvingo, Chipinge South, Chiredzi, Mberengwa, Kezi, Beitbridge and Matopo.
This has pushed farmers to under-sell their cattle.
Livestock production is normally practised in Matabeleland, but farmers in Mashonaland have taken up the trade.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union livestock expert, Lloyd Mataya has said with the onset of winter, farmers should put in place measures to safeguard the remaining herd.
Livestock diseases are rampant during the rainy season, but there are diseases farmers should be on the lookout for during winter, he said.
“Cattle should go into winter free of worm burdens.
“All ‘young stock’ and ‘adult cattle’ should be dosed for roundworms and fluke on farms where it is common.
“If not sure of worm and fluke levels, a farmer can take fresh dung samples to veterinary offices for testing.”
Apart from vaccinating livestock, Mataya said the stock should also be dipped and dosed.
“Farms that had a theileriosis or brown ear tick problem during the summer season should continue to dip the recommended intervals during July and August when brown ear tick nymphs are active and may pick up the theileria infection from carrier cattle,” Mataya said.
“During winter, also have cows ‘pregnancy-diagnosed’ by veterinary surgeons as this gives an idea of which animals to re-bull and which cows do not need to be fed in winter or those for culling.
“Experts can also identify fertility problems, generalised herd diseases and give an expected calf crop.”
Mataya said sheep should be vaccinated against pulpy kidney, tetanus, clostridia and pasteurella.
Agriculture – Livestock – winter
