LIVESTOCK production has remained a key component of the agriculture sector and efforts continue to be made by stakeholders to improve growth.
It is normally practised in the Matabeleland region but some farmers in Mashonaland have taken up the trade at a commercial level.
The national herd stands at five million and efforts are being made by Government and stakeholders to preserve and boost the herd.
Government plans to increase the herd to 25 million in the next 20 years.
Issues bedevilling the sector include lack of funds to access chemicals to curb and control diseases, inadequate pastures, stock-theft and for new players start-up capital.
According to pundits, farmers must be on the lookout for livestock diseases in the rainy season.
“In the rain season livestock disease-outbreaks increase hence farmers should be on high alert as to what to do to contain the spread or prevent diseases,” said livestock expert Lloyd Mataya.
“In the past farmers were affected by the lack of adequate funds to purchase dipping chemicals and this has affected the growth of the national herd.”
Most livestock in the Matabeleland region are affected by foot and mouth disease.
Government has, however, in the past seasons through the veterinary department helped farmers vaccinate livestock for notifiable diseases such as anthrax, newcastle, rabies and foot and mouth.
Anthrax is a bacterial infection that usually affects goats, cattle, sheep, pigs, camels, antelopes and horses. It can be transmitted to humans through breaks in the skin, from contaminated food and through inhalation of bacteria.
Lack of funding to the sub-sector has resulted in ranchers failing to purchase chemicals for dipping and containing disease outbreaks.
Government supplies dipping chemicals to communal and A1 farmers while commercial and A2 farmers purchase their own.
During the wet season, cattle are dipped once every week whereas in the dry season they are dipped once every fortnight.
Mataya said resettled farmers should be educated that vaccination or dipping is not only important during the rain season but also in the dry season.
“Vaccination and dipping is not done in one season but there are different times during the year when certain diseases are prevalent hence farmers should acquire knowledge on when and what to vaccinate the livestock against,” he said.