Quarantine rules laid down to save cattle
A WIDOW and farmer Mrs Thulani Mpofu is left with only an empty kraal and cattle bells after Theileriosis, which has claimed hundreds of cattle in Insiza District, Matabeleland North Province, and the Midlands Province, wiped out all her 50 cattle.
Theileriosis, commonly known as January disease, has killed over 200 cattle in and around PBS Farm in Insiza District since the beginning of the year.
The Government has dispatched dipping chemicals and tick grease to contain the disease that has hit parts of Matabeleland South Province and the Midlands, where farmers have lost 130 cattle.
The Department of Veterinary Services is now battling to contain the disease to stop it from spreading to more areas and districts. Quarantine rules have been laid down. By law, when farmers suspect the presence of January disease in their area, they are compelled to make a report to the Department of Veterinary Services.
Addressing villagers from Mangwe, Ward 18 in Insiza District on Monday, Matabeleland South provincial veterinary director, Dr Enat Mdlongwa, said the Government will ensure that farmers in affected areas have adequate access to acaricide and tick grease, medicines that are necessary to protect their cattle.
A quarantine has also been effected in affected areas.
Cattle are destroyed for going beyond the quarantined areas.
Every farmer must also ensure that his or her livestock spend the night in the kraal.
“The order I am giving you is that no cattle will be allowed to sleep outside the kraal. This is a bid to prevent the spread of Theileriosis. We will also be issuing out massive tick grease in this area. Government has said instead of people getting 1kg you will be receiving 4kg so that when animals are coming from dipping then the tick grease can be applied,” said Dr Mdlongwa.
“We are also going to be distributing massive deadline pour on, in these area. We will also ensure that there is controlled movement of cattle from this area. This area is now under quarantine. We will also be coming here more frequently as part of the sensitisation programme. We have declared a war against this disease,” he said.
Dr Mdlongwa said farmers in affected areas will now be expected to pay a dipping levy of US$2 and Government will provide acaricide.
He said farmers will now leave the sustainable acaricide supply model where they were making contributions to buy their own acaricide from suppliers.
Dr Mdlongwa said his department will also start enforcing proper dipping regimes. He said checks will be made to ensure that cattle that come for dipping are registered in stock cards. He urged farmers to be transparent when dipping their animals by ensuring that all are brought in for dipping.
He said if one animal remains behind then that nullifies the entire dipping exercise.
“If we pull against this Government programme then we will be left behind. Every animal from today onwards will be expected to be kraaled. Each farmer has to ensure that they check on their animals every morning in order to identify any outbreaks as early as possible,” he added.
“There is need for early detection of disease and early initiation of treatment. If you identify the disease early it can be contained but if it’s detected late an animal can die. For animals that have the disease make sure that you nurse them up until they recover. Put the animal in a kraal and feed it. If we neglect our responsibility as farmers, then we will lose our animals.”
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