SAMUEL NJINGA RECENTLY IN ZAKA
Farmers in Mutimwi area, Zaka district in Masvingo Province, are confronted by a nightmare of mass cattle deaths due to diseases, the Business Times can report.
A farmer in the area Junior Tangai said the cattle are dying instantly and in large numbers.
“We have often seen our cattle becoming blind thereby finding it difficult to feed on their own,” Tangai told Business Times.
Another farmer in the area, James Chireka, said the rate at which our cattle are dying is so disturbing and they “wake up to find our cattle dead”.
Thomas Masekenyenye, another farmer in the area said the deaths come despite farmers dipping their livestock.
“We have always argued that our cattle are not only dying of January disease, but other diseases. We take our cattle to the dip tank more often. We treat them on several occasions. At times we would practically pick up the ticks from the cattle. We do everything possible to eradicate the ticks but our cattle have been dying,” Masekenyenye said.
“It is our argument that these cattle are not dying because of ticks. It should be something else.
“We are putting the government to task. It is time they make some thorough investigations into the disease that is being allegedly called January disease.”
Masvingo Beef Producers Association chairman, Robert Makadho, said farmers should periodically dip their cattle in order to get rid of this disease.
“Right now what these Mutimwi based farmers are witnessing are the adverse effects of theileriosis. They must treat their cattle using limoxin, butachem, eye and wound powder and any other drugs. It is also important that they use according to manufacturer`s instructions and should also seek advice from the veterinary health department expert officers in their area,” Makadho said.
Scientific research has revealed that deficiency of vitamin A is the chief cause of night blindness and occurs in cattle when there is significant fall of a percentage of plasma and liver levels. This is often due to suboptimal amounts of green intake for a prolonged time.
