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Newcastle and Anthrax scare

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By Shingirirai Mutonho

WITH the rain season having started, farmers in livestock production should be on the lookout for diseases that spread quickly, an official has said.
Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) livestock expert, Lloyd Mataya said livestock needs good care if the farmer is to realise profit out of the business venture.
He said disease prevention was vital.
“The rain season is synonymous with livestock disease outbreaks, hence farmers should be on high alert as to what to do to contain the spread or prevent the diseases,” Mataya said.
“In the past, farmers were affected by lack of adequate funds to purchase dipping chemicals and this has affected the growth of the national herd.”
Apart from vaccinating and dipping, Mataya said, a farmer should ensure livestock get the essential nutrients from what they eat as the food also contributes to disease prevention.
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.
Livestock production is usually vibrant in the Matabeleland region, but some farmers in other provinces have taken up the trade.
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 which 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 buy 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.
Farmers have since reported cases of Newcastle in Mhondoro and Anthrax in Matabeleland.
Mataya said resettled farmers should be educated that vaccination or dipping is not only important during the rainy 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.
Left is a table detailing the diseases and times beef cattle farmers should vaccinate their livestock.

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