More cattle die in Mat’land
THE number of cattle dying due to the effects of drought in Matabeleland is reportedly on the rise as the region is still to record significant rainfall to improve pastures and water availability.
Matabeleland North Province, which had relatively lower cattle poverty deaths compared to Matabeleland South has seen an increase in animals succumbing largely due to lack of reliable water sources.
“Farmers are losing cattle due to poverty largely because most of the dams in virtually all the districts are either on the verge of running dry or have dried up. Water is very essential to cattle to the extent that an animal can die if it fails to drink in 14 days but it can live for almost a month without grazing.
“In most districts most pregnant cows are dying of poverty due to lack of reliable water sources but I am not in a position to reveal the official figures in terms of the animals that have died. In areas such as Binga you come across long winding queues of people at boreholes with livestock by the side all in need of the resource,” said Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Polex Moyo.
Department of Livestock Production and Development (DLPD) Matabeleland North provincial livestock specialist Mr Admore Chikowa said the water table in most areas in the province was now low resulting in reduced water output from boreholes which have since become major sources as virtually all the dams have dried up.
“The water situation is very bad, animals are now drinking from small ponds and at boreholes, two to three days a week because the water table is low. So far we have recorded about 67 deaths due to poverty across the districts in the province, obviously the figure should be far over that because most of the deaths are not recorded.
“We also have some of the animals that are about to die being slaughtered to avoid them from succumbing naturally. We expect more poverty deaths during the onset of the rains because the little graze which is there will be swept away leaving the animals susceptible due to lack of feed,” said Mr Chikowa.
He said some farmers were also losing a significant number of their livestock to carnivorous wild animals.
“A number of farmers especially in Tsholotsho and Hwange are also losing a significant number of their livestock as they take their animals for relief grazing in areas with predators and as a result we have received reports that 47 animals which include cattle, goats and sheep have been killed in Hwange,” said Mr Chikowa.
DLPD Matabeleland South livestock specialist Mrs Simangaliphi Ngwabi also lamented the increase in cattle poverty deaths in her area of jurisdiction.
“Cattle are dying and most of them are in bad shape with some being assisted to get on their feet by their owners. This is what we can term the darkest hour before dawn. Our farmers should learn year in year out, that we are in a drought prone area and thus put in place measures to prevent poverty deaths,” said Mrs Ngwabi.
Last week FAO distributed stockfeed in the form of survival and pen fattening feed in Bubi district but Mrs Ngwabi said although the programme would go a long way in saving animals, the number of cattle in need was overwhelming.
Under the programme a 50-kilogramme bag of both survival and pen fattening feed costs $7. Sorghum and cowpeas are also being distributed since the programme also entails improved food nutrition for communities. A 5kg of sorghum costs $2 while a two-and-a-half kg pack of cow peas costs $1.
Priority to the scheme is being given to farmers owning 10 or less cattle.