18 Jan 2016

Some farmers and Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) in Maun have resolved to let the abattoir transport their cattle to Makalamabedi quarantine.

The agreement followed the recent stand-off between farmers and BMC, which was a result of water shortage at the abattoir.

Under the arrangement, the abattoir would buy cattle through live trade arrangements at P8 per kg and not for direct slaughter as it was the case before. 

The decision to relocate the cattle to Makalamabedi came after the abattoir had told farmers to bring cattle to the Matsaudi collection point only to later tell them to release the cattle as the abattoir had no water to slaughter.

Farmers did not take kindly to BMC’s suggestion demanding instead that the abattoir should take responsibility for the feeding of the kraaled cattle. 

The misunderstanding led to a meeting with the farmers, BMC and the local authorities and no agreement was reached as some farmers were against the decision, but rather came up with some options, which were to be looked into by the abattoir management.

In an interview, the leader of the concerned farmers, Mr Mogomotsi Motlapele, said farmers had a meeting where they agreed to let the abattoir transport their cattle because they realised that it would take long for the management to look into the options they had suggested while their cattle continued to suffer.

He said they had no choice but to agree with the abattoir’s decision to relocate their cattle and buy their cattle through live trade with the set prices. 

Initially, farmers complained that P8 per kg was too low and insisted that the abattoir buy their cattle at a better price.

 They argued that they would not earn much as their cattle had lost weight because of lack of water. 

However, Mr Motlapele expressed frustration that the issue had taken a different turn as a result of a malfunctioning weighing scale at the Makalamabedi collection point.

“Our cattle were transported here on Thursday and only to be told that the weighing scale is malfunctioning and abattoir is still to borrow the weighing scale from Letlhakane,” he added.

He said it was frustrating because their cattle stayed almost a week without food and some were reported to have died while others were very weak. 

He appreciated that the abattoir provided drinking water to the kraaled cattle.

Mr Motlapele noted that the situation prompted some farmers to cut grass in the neighbouring areas to feed their cattle. Ends