Farmers urged to consider ranching
THE Department of Livestock in Mashonaland Central has urged farmers to take cattle ranching as a serious business.
In an interview last week, provincial livestock officer Mr Daniel Kampiyau said most communal and A1 farmers were neglecting their livestock, thereby exposing them to lumpy skin, black leg and other tick-borne diseases.
“The province has a beef herd of 534 000, but most communal and A1 farmers are not taking cattle ranching as a business,” he said.
“Most of them are not dipping their cattle, especially this time of the year when they are supposed to be dipped once a week. We have been raising a lot of awareness campaigns, but with little results because some farmers tend to be reactive and act when their animals are under attack from tick-borne diseases. Wet conditions are favourable for the breeding of ticks and farmers should ensure that their cattle dipped once every week.
“Vaccination against skin lumpy and black leg diseases should be done before the onset of the rainy season. For one to realise maximum benefits from farming, he or she needs to invest in the projects.
“Farmers should not just think that their cattle are free-range grazers, they also need the right nutrition and care for them to fetch good prices on the market.”
Mr Kampiyau said the province was carrying out its first crop and livestock assessment to determine how devastating the mid-season drought in January was.
“Although the current rains have improved pastures and buoyed farmers’ hopes, most of the cattle in Dande Valley areas of lower Mt Darwin, Rushinga, Mbire and Lower Muzarabani had suffered from serious weight loss,” he said.
“Although no deaths were recorded, their body conditios is not pleasing as they were forced to walk for about 4 kilometres in search of water.”
Mr Kampiyau expressed concern over the depletion of palatable grass species in most parts of Mashonaland Central.