Acute shortage of dipping chemicals compounded by unavailability of foreign currency in purchasing dipping chemicals and key drugs have adversely affected the quality of livestock, and has significantly reduced the number of the cattle herd in Kwekwe District. The district has been operating without a government Veterinary Doctor for almost eight months, since the elevation of Doctor Daniel Hove to post of Midlands Provincial Veterinary Officer, this has effected veterinary services in Kwekwe District.
The shortage of dipping chemicals has seriously affected mostly communal areas, where Dip Tanks can not offer dipping services for the past six months. This has culminated in recurring of key diseases lsuch as Tick Borne, red water, heart water, January and gull sickness that are affecting most livestock in the district, and fatalities in cattle has also balloned.
“Zimbabwe has so far lost 50 000 cattle this year due to diseases caused by cattle not having access to dipping services due to non availability of dipping chemicals and other key drugs. Kwekwe district has lost quite a substantial number of cattle. The most affected areas are Silobela, Zhombe, Grasslands and Ripple Creek. Also this rainy season diseases like foot rot affect cattle, so I urge farmers to take care of their livestock by thoroughly cleaning and clearing their cattle pens as a preventative measure against infection as mostly cattle get affected by foot rot, which is prevalent this rainy season”, said Dr Tapiwanashe Mukorovi, Kwekwe District Veterinary Officer.
He also urged farmers to deworm and weekly dip their cattle. New calves need wound spraying on the naval, dehorning of cows, castration of bulls and vaccination of black leg is also recommended in order to have quality herd.
Also the Veterinary department in Kwekwe has also some teething challenges as there are no vehicles or pool cars, which makes it impossible for the veterinary team to attend to farmers needs as they rely upon clients vehicles in order to attend to emergencies in the farms. There is also a serious shortage of drugs for everyday use, no syringes or needles available.
There are also diseases like positive new castle and round worms affecting poultry in Kwekwe district. Kwekwe district has also recorded three human deaths this year due to rabies as 10 cases of positive dogs have been reported in the district.
” Dog owners should take heed of our call to have their pets vaccinated against rabies as we had vaccination campaigns in the district. It only cost a dollar to vaccinate a g or pet . Dog owners can visit any Animal Health Center near them for the services’, said Dr Mukorovi.
He further said the Veterinary Department in Zimbabwe has the potential to contribute in boosting the quality of the cattle herd in the country in order for the country to earn much needed foreign currency by enabling the exporting of good quality beef to outside Zimbabwe and the world. The government need to channel resources in order to equip the department and thereby boosting the beef industry. Movement of cattle in the district is also under surveillance and the quarantine exercise of livestock movement will be reviewed on March 2019.
