dyton mupawaendaPrecious Manomano
Herald Reporter
Government has reassured farmers of its commitment to livestock health by confirming the availability of over 380 000 doses of vaccines for tick-borne diseases.
The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is scaling up efforts to combat an anticipated rise in animal diseases, by ensuring that farmers have the necessary resources to protect their livestock.
DVS chief director Dr Pious Makaya gave details of the current vaccine stock, which includes 380 000 doses of Theileriosis, along with 40 000 doses of Anaplasmosis (gall sickness) and 40 000 doses of Babesiosis (red water).
Despite this substantial supply, he noted that the department requires two million doses of anthrax and four million doses of blackleg, which are imported annually from Botswana.
“With the coming of the rainy season, farmers and other stakeholders in the livestock industry should expect a general increase in animal diseases across the country,” Dr Makaya said.
He identified potential threats, including internal and external parasites, food-borne diseases, insect or vector-borne diseases, and soil-borne diseases like blackleg and anthrax.
In response to these challenges, DVS is enhancing its laboratory-based surveillance of animal diseases nationwide.
The department has decentralised its diagnostic processes to provinces such as Manicaland, Masvingo, Gwanda, Bulawayo, and Gweru, to improve access to vital disease monitoring.
“It is very important to make sure that the lab-based surveillance system goes down next to the farmer,” Dr Makaya said.
He added that DVS plans to extend this decentralisation to all districts across the country to enhance extension and advisory services.
Farmers are encouraged to dose their animals during this time to reduce infestations, but Dr Makaya cautioned against treating livestock in poor health due to drought conditions.
“Most of our animals are in poor conditions because of the impact of drought. So, they shouldn’t deworm their livestock if they have poor blood conditions. We encourage farmers to deworm animals with a blood condition of 3 and above,” he said.
To combat the expected rise in foodborne diseases, DVS will also increase inspections and certifications of abattoirs and milk processing plants to ensure the safety of animal-derived foods.
The department is committed to upscaling veterinary public health operations for beef and pork.
Dr Makaya further urged farmers to vaccinate their livestock against lumpy skin disease and take preventive measures against soil-borne diseases like blackleg and anthrax.
He highlighted the critical role of regular dipping, encouraging farmers to dip their animals weekly as advised by extension staff to mitigate the prevalence of tick-borne diseases.
With these comprehensive measures in place, the Government aims to support farmers in safeguarding their livestock and tackling the challenges posed by the rainy season, to boost the health and productivity of the livestock industry during this critical period.
