10 Feb 2014

The ear tag and bolus insertion campaign is in full swing in Letlhakeng Sub-district.

Speaking during the fourth sub-council forum in Letlhakeng recently, council chairperson, Mr Tshoganetso Leuwe said 56 534 cattle in seven villages had already been ear tagged.

He said the campaign had so far covered villages such as Motokwe, Tsetseng, Dutlwe, Takatokwane, Maboane and Moshaweng. He noted that the campaign was expected to cover approximately 200 000 cattle in the sub-district.

The chairperson pointed out that the 56 534 cattle’s ear tags were linked with old bolus inside them while 22 374 cattle were ear tagged and inserted with new boluses. Mr Leuwe also stated that government bought 547 cattle from Letlhakeng sub-district for restocking programme in Francistown.

The chairperson also informed the council forum that 1 431 small stock were also bought from the sub-district for the same purpose. He urged councillors to encourage farmers to make use of such exercises.

Councillors applauded the ear tag and bolus campaign, saying that it was a good initiative that would benefit farmers.

Councillors also raised a concern about the poverty eradication projects in some parts of the sub-district saying the delivery of equipment for most projects was slow.

They also raised a concern over shortage of veterinary officers in the sub-district which made the ear tag implementation slow. Councillor for Moshaweng, Mr Tshepiso Lesope said the bolus campaign was behind schedule in his area.

He identified shortage of veterinary officers as a major problem that hindered farmers from making use of farming programmes such as artificial insemination.

Another councillor, Ms Beauty Bogale of Motokwe said the sub-district was severely short of officers, adding that such hampered service delivery. She cited shortage of transport as a major problem that hindered linkage between officers and residents. ENDS