10 Apr 2017

Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) manager in Maun, Mr Oabona Ramotshwara has appealed to Hainaveld farmers to supply 10 000 cattle for slaughter once they start collecting from their ranches.

The Maun abattoir target this year is to slaughter 29 160 cattle, but it has been reported that it is behind the set target.

The manager made the plea during a seminar held at Hainaveld recently.

He said although they had not started buying from the ranches, they would start soon.

He noted that last year they collected 6 000 cattle from the ranches, but stated that this year the future seems bright for them as the district experienced good rains and hoped they would reach their set target.

Mr Ramotshwara also noted that last year they experienced challenges such as shortage of water which affected production and resulted in the temporary closure of the abattoir.

He said they were also committed to address the concerns raised by farmers, as they complained that they stayed some years without a market.

Currently the abattoir is buying cattle from communal farmers.

Earlier on, another official from Maun abattoir, Mr Poelelo Serole explained they were behind the set target, stating that in January they were supposed to slaughter 1 440 cattle, but were short of 27 animals. In February 2 400 cattle were supposed to be slaughtered, but they managed to kill only 2 191.

In March, the abattoir slaughtered 2 744 instead of 2 761.

Mr Serole said some of the reasons advanced by farmers was that cattle movement was high due to water sources everywhere while some cattle were not vaccinated hence they brought low numbers of cattle.

However, he stated that a farmer could make an arrangement with management to supply a certain number to the abattoir, and encouraged all willing to do so to notify them in two days.

Mr Serole also revealed that they would start buying from the ranches in May, but raised concern about the loading ramps, saying some were not in a good condition and resulted in them failing to collect cattle as expected.

He said he hoped farmers in ranches would establish a loading centre where they could easily collect the cattle, adding that a one point centre would be ideal as they would access all services closer.

Farmers were also appraised on how measles affect the abattoir.

Mr Serole explained that many cattle slaughtered at the abattoir had measles resulting in the abattoir incurring huge costs because of beef which had to be treated.

Since they opened in January 17 this year, he explained that they slaughtered 1 226 cattle of which 86 were condemned due to measles.

In February, the abattoir slaughtered 2 191 of which 176 were condemned while in March, 1 375 cattle were slaughtered and 77 condemned.

This month 2 744 had already been slaughtered and 139 had been condemned.

Dr Odirieleng Thololwane from the Department of Veterinary Services called on farmers and the community to come up with effective strategies to eradicate beef measles as it threatens the beef industry.

He blamed poor sanitation for the prevalence of the disease in the district, adding that the community was still behind in adopting good hygiene practices. ENDS