GOVT SPENT P25 MILLION ON TEXAN CATTLE
The government has spent approximately P25 million in acquiring the 162 cattle that arrived yesterday in Gaborone from Texas in the United States of America.
President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the amount includes logistics expenditures such as transporting and ensuring that the animals arrive in Botswana in good health after they left their country of origin.
Speaking after the arrival of the 141 bulls and 21 heifers, he said the animals are of different breeds and are owned by the state. President Masisi said prior to the country’s independence, the colonial government imported several tens of animals from the United States with a mission to improve the quality of cattle in Bechuanaland, but the citizens never benefitted from the initiative as the cattle were taken by the settlers in Mahikeng. When the country’s capital city moved to Gaborone, the cattle and other related records remained in Mahikeng and were never accounted for.
He said when he launched the revival of the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Ranch last year, he had in mind a system that will push his dream of seeing the national herd grow significantly.
The president said the national herd has suffered a serious decline from 3 million cattle in the seventies and eightees to just 1.7 million according to the 2015 statistics. He said the cattle population was compromised at the advantage of wildlife, particularly elephants, that enjoyed the privilege of killing both livestock and farmers with impunity.
“The times have changed and we are doing things differently. There are 106 Brahman bulls, 21 white Brahman heifers, 4 red Brahman bulls, 2 Black Angus bulls, 2 red Angus bulls, five Sherlyn bulls, five Brinen bulls, 10 Beefmaster bulls, and seven other bulls. That’s the consignment on that Boeing 747 aeroplane,” he said.
The cattle were procured from the JD Hudgins Incorporation in the state of Texas, a company that has been breeding cattle for generations. The company representative, Clay Hudgins, said they have exported cattle to many states in the USA and beyond the US borders. He explained that the cattle breeds are of high quality, very productive and can produce up to 35 offsprings in their lifetime, something he said Batswana should take advantage of.
The cattle were loaded into several trucks and were to be transported to Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination Ranch where they will be used for semen production, which will be sold locally and for export.
Meanwhile, a foggy morning nearly disrupted the day’s proceedings and caused some flight delays as some passengers were seen disembarking from Air Botswana aircraft, and only boarding again after the sky had cleared just after 10am.
On Wednesday this week, Botswana government received 141 bulls and 21 heifers from the United states of America to boost the country’s revised artificial insemination programme.
Despite the country being known for its best beef, especially in the European Union countries, who are the main importers of Botswana beef, farmers have generally expressed appreciation at the prospect of raising American breeds in their kraals.
Many farmers in Ngamiland say the import of cattle is a positive move in improving cattle ranching in their region.
“No words can express my gratitude, If it wasn’t for poor health, I would have travelled to Gaborone to personally see them arrive. If President Masisi was here, I would just lift him with my arms to demonstrate my joy at this moment,” noted one of the popular cattle barons in Maun, Edward Sekeletu of Hainaveld farms.
A cattle rancher of note for many years said that he is among farmers who work closely with Animal Health and Production Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, because he strives to rear the best breed.
“As we speak, my cans that I use to store cattle semen are in Ramatlabama because I believe in artificial insemination. I have no doubt that the newly imported bulls from overseas will improve what we already have locally and I am very excited. Without a doubt, I will have the semen very soon,” added Sekeletu, who at the time of the interview was busy at the farm helping farm helpers to castrate some of his cattle.
For another rancher, Tiro Modisaemang, who doubles as Chairperson for Hainaveld Farmer’s Association, the new breed will surely bring positive change in the Ngamiland cattle ranches. “We in Ngamiland also hope to receive bulls, if not semen. As you know, Ngamiland is vast but also have plenty of roaming wildlife so it would be sad to get such a big animal and next thing it is killed and eaten by lions. That is why my best bet would be on semen because, that way, we will get to breed our herds within a reasonable time and in a controlled manner.”
Modisaemang further explained that cattle ranching in Ngamiland faces many challenges including animal diseases such as foot and mouth among others, and attacks from wild animals, especially lions, as the ranching areas are surrounded by game farms and reserves.
“Once cattle are brought to Ngamiland, which is a red zone, they will be here to stay or until they die. Another thing is, we have lions coming from CKGR, which eat animals in Hainaveld farms,” further explained Modisaemang.
Just as Sekeletu, Modisaemang is of the view that government’s effort is worth celebrating as it marks a historical moment in agriculture and cattle ranching records. “I truly appreciate the team from the Ministry of Agriculture who advised President Masisi to do this.”
However, trying to get comment from Gantsi farmers was not so successful, with some of them completely refusing to comment on the matter except if they are to speak off the record. One of them simply said, “I have not seen the cattle so I cannot comment when I have not made any observation on the animals.”