26 Jun 2015

The department of veterinary services recently allowed the slaughter of some Ngamiland cattle at the Francistown abattoir.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Maun yesterday (June 25), the Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, said  areas whose cattle were slaughtered included Hainaveld block of farms and the veterinary extension area stretching from Chanoga to Shorobe since these areas had not recorded any outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease for a considerable period of time.

He said the development would alleviate the pressures of high stocking rates in the affected areas of the Ngamiland District and that as the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) situation improves in other parts of the district, other areas would also be considered.

Mr Molao said it should also be noted that beef market for the whole area would be opened after the district has been declared free of Foot and Mouth Disease. The assistant minister said FMD in Ngamiland was under control through ring vaccination and movement controls. 

He said though the vaccination coverage was disturbed by heavy rainfall in the whole Ngamiland, the control of an infectious agent was to have 80 per cent of animals vaccinated.

He, however, encouraged famers to bring their cattle for vaccination in order to contain FMD in the area and that farmers who fail to vaccinate their cattle will be brought to book.  He said farmers will be compensated P400 per beast. 

He said the veterinary office in the area was still looking for farmers who were not paid to collect their payment. Mr Molao said consultations were done in February through kgotla meetings in Gumare, Tsau, Habu and Nokaneng on the purpose of killing all cattle that enter Zone 16 to control the disease. 

Meanwhile, Mr Molao urged farmers to buy sexed semen to support the dairy farming industry which he said is very low.  He said the country imports 60 million litres of milk while local production stands at 3 million litres a year.

A farmer, Mr Sesentle Madise applauded residents of Chanoga and Shorobe for vaccinating their cattle in order to be sold to the Francistown abattoir. 

He requested government to extend the Maun abattoir and that there were many cattle in the area than those in Francistown. ENDS