Govt wages all-out war on cattle diseases

THE Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has started receiving dipping chemicals and also commenced manufacturing a vaccine for theileriosis, also known as January disease, as Government moves to curb cattle deaths and the spread of tick-borne diseases.

This follows an outbreak of tick-borne diseases in most parts of the country which has left over 4 000 cattle dead since last November.

The number of the deaths could be higher as most cases are not reported to the authorities.

The tick-borne disease came as a result of irregular dipping caused by a critical shortage of chemicals that has led to the proliferation of counterfeit products on the market.

DVS director Dr Josphat Nyika yesterday confirmed that the department had started getting dipping chemicals and dispatching them to the affected areas.

“We have started receiving limited quantities of dipping chemicals from the manufacturers that were awarded the tender to supply the chemicals,” he said. “The chemicals are for communal, A1 and old resettlement areas.

“The department is still constrained in accessing foreign currency to import the active ingredient. We have also approached the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to prioritise allocation of foreign currency to dip manufacturing companies.

“The department has also embarked on manufacturing of theileriosis (January Disease) vaccine which will be ready for use between January and February 2019.”

Dr Nyika said the vaccine would be targeted at hotspots areas such as Musana, Masembura in Bindura, Domboshava, Wedza, Buhera and Chikomba District.

He said the tick-borne disease situation had stabilised due to the supplies received and deployed and progression of the dry season.

“However, the department needs to dip intensively during this dry season to kill the lymphs popularly known as paper ticks before they grow into adults and continue to propagate and lay eggs,” said Dr Nyika.

“We are still encouraging farmers to pay dipping fees to enable the department to pay for the accaricide and ensure continuous supply. We encourage farmers to apply tick grease in the ears, under the tail and on the tail brush which are feeding sites of the brown ear tick which transmits January disease.

“Farmers are also encouraged not to panic and sell their cattle at give-away prices as they can treat the cattle with buparvaquone which is available from reputable drug companies.”

Dr Nyika expressed concern that the panic selling of cattle by farmers had contributed to the increase in the number of cattle that had been slaughtered.

“Farmers are warned against illegal movement especially of tick-infested cattle because this will result in the disease spreading to new areas,” he said.

The DVS has a national dipping programme covering about 4 000 dip tanks countrywide.

The department has also conducted mobile clinics in Wedza and will be moving to other affected areas.

Farmers will also be given free tick grease.

Tick-borne diseases are a threat to Government’s Command Livestock programme which is aimed at boosting the national herd.