22 Sep 2017

Farmers have been told that feeding cattle chicken manure is not good for the country’s beef industry.

The deputy director of policy and compliance in the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Dr Kefentse Motshegwa said this during a two-day farmers’ workshop in Kanye this week.

The workshop was on Botswana’s Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS) and compliance.

Dr Motshegwa revealed that beef exported from the Botswana Meat Commission abattoir in Maun to Kuwait had tested positive for microlites, saying he believed it could be due to feeding cattle chicken manure.

“We are worried as a ministry considering that government had gone all out to secure a market for cattle in that area which came as a relief to the farming community who were also now able to access a better market,” he said, adding that the development could have a rippling effect.

Dr Motshegwa called on farmers to shun the use of chicken manure or any other manure as cattle feed even at the height of dry spells.

On other issues, Dr Motshegwa dispelled views by some farmers that government had left them in the lurch as far as vaccination was concerned.

“We have not stopped the free vaccination of cattle for anthrax and quarter evil. Yes, there are challenges of shortage of funds, but we have a programme in place to address the matter,” he said, acknowledging though that it had been a while since vaccination had not taken place.

He, however, encouraged farmers with the capacity to procure medicines for their cattle at all times without having to wait for government assistance.

Such medicines, he advised, should only be procured from recommended stores such as Agrivet and Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB).

On the use of veterinary medicines, farmers were advised to follow instructions from leaflets from prescribed drugs to ensure proper and effective drug usage.

Dr Nthabiseng Mthetho also called on farmers to observe stipulated withdrawal periods from the time of vaccination to ensure the meat of animals do not pose health hazards to consumers upon consumption.

She concurred that drugs should be procured from recommended stores and be kept in a place of safety to avoid harm that may occur as a result of negligence.

For her part, district agricultural coordinator, Ms Monia Mfolwe said it was important for farmers to work closely with ministry’s officials to ensure they derived maximum benefit from their animals.

Ms Mfolwe also said it was incumbent upon farmers to feed and vaccinate their animals at all times. BOPA