Contribute towards dipping, farmers urged

FARMERS must contribute to the procurement of dipping chemicals through payment of dipping fees to ensure there are enough quantities to prevent the resurgence of tick-borne diseases responsible for high cattle mortalities during the rainy seasons.

Chief director in the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Dr Josphat Nyika urged farmers to act responsibly and complement Government’s efforts towards eradicating ticks and re-building the national herd.

“Cattle farmers should complement Government’s effort by contributing an equivalent of US$2 or the equivalent in local currency per beast per year to facilitate procurement of dipping chemicals.

“It is critical that farmers do so to ensure that their cattle are dipped all year round,” he said.

Tick-borne diseases such as January Disease, Anaplasmosis, Redwater and Heartwater account for about 67 percent of all cattle mortalities each year.

Dr Nyika added that effective dipping was crucial in the rainy season adding that the chemicals in stock should sustain them throughout the rainy season.

“The Government is ready for the rainy season with adequate chemicals in stock to take us to its end. We have enough dipping chemicals in stock to cover this risky period. Ticks and tickborne diseases are usually a menace during the rainy season, hence uninterrupted dipping is the most effective way to control tick-borne diseases,” explained Dr Nyika.

In addition, the Government has also rehabilitated over 400 dip tanks this year to combat tick-borne diseases and protect the national herd.

Dr Nyika also encouraged farmers to dip their cattle on a weekly basis at this time of the year, adding that it was a requirement by the law, failure of which the farmer is liable to prosecution.

“For effective control, all cattle should go for dipping. Cattle harvest ticks from the pastures and offload them in the dip tanks, which have the tick-killing agent. If some animals do not go for dipping, they re-introduce ticks in the pastures, which leaves them vulnerable to tick-borne diseases.

DVS has engaged traditional leaders across the country to assist with improving turn out of cattle at dip tanks, failure of which one will be liable to paying a fine at the traditional courts.

It is also working with the police at roadblocks throughout the country to ensure that all cattle moving to farms and markets have necessary veterinary permits, and are tick-free, as required by the law.