The Chronicle
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
A TOTAL of 24 deaths from 84 cases of Lumpy skin disease have been recorded in Matabeleland North province since the beginning of the year with Nkayi District being the worst affected, accounting for 74 percent of the cases.
In Gwamayaya area under Chief Dakamela, one villager lost four cattle from the disease while Chief Dakamela himself lost two beasts.
Lumpy skin is a viral cattle disease that is transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes, making it more prevalent in the rainy season. The disease manifests as characteristic skin nodules, fever, lachrymation, nasal discharge, and swelling of superficial lymph nodes.
The peak of the disease over the years is from January to April tailing off in May to June.
Chief Dakamela has since urged Government to subsidise the costs of vaccines.
He said the costs are beyond the reach of many villagers, and there are challenges in that its storage needs one to have a refrigerator.
“Our cattle are dying here. Personally, I have lost two and I believe this is the least number, others have recorded more deaths. To prevent this we must vaccinate our cattle but now the vaccine needs to be kept in ice to maintain a certain temperature all the time because it loses its medicinal value as long as it is not kept under the recommended temperatures,” said Chief Dakamela.
Chief Dakamela
A villager from the same area, Mr Mkhanyisi Dube said he lost four cattle from the disease. He said some people are cashing in on the dire situation by purchasing the vaccine and charging exorbitant fees of as much as US$10 to vaccinate a single beast.
Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Fellistas Ndlovu said although lumpy skin outbreaks are generally associated with low death rates in herds, the economic consequences of the outbreak are prolonged loss of production in both dairy and beef cattle through loss of weight in diseased cattle.
Farmers using cattle as a source of draught power are also affected by reduced milk yield and reduced quality of hides and meat.
Dr Ndlovu encouraged farmers to vaccinate their animals timeously to prevent the disease and give supportive treatment to sick animals.
“The districts where the disease is most prevalent in Matabeleland North are Binga and Nkayi with isolated cases in the rest of the districts. Since the beginning of the year 86 cases of lumpy skin disease and 24 deaths were reported throughout the province with Nkayi reporting 74 percent of the cases,” she said.
Dr Ndlovu said control measures include isolation of sick animals and providing supportive treatment, restriction of movement of sick animals from one place to another and reactive vaccination. Supportive treatment include use of antibiotics as advised by a veterinarian, feeding and watering the sick animals, and treatment of wounds in case the lumps burst open.
“Vaccination in endemic areas like Nkayi should be done routinely on an annual basis, especially before the onset of the rainy season. The cost of vaccine has been found to be a limiting factor to some farmers, hence outbreaks occur,” said Dr Ndlovu.
In Insiza district, Matabeleland South, villagers have lost their cattle through tick-borne diseases although some deaths may not have been recorded with the outbreak forcing farmers to sell their beasts at very low prices of between US$100 and US$300 way below the usual value of up to as much as US$800.
According to the Department of Veterinary Services, tick-borne diseases are responsible for about 60 percent of annual losses in livestock.
Department of Veterinary Services
Government has introduced a plethora of measures to fight the deadly disease including dip tank rehabilitation, production of local vaccines, dipping, and introduction of the Presidential Tick Grease Programme among others.
Following these measures, the country has witnessed a 50 percent reduction in the number of tick-borne diseases. The Presidential Tick Grease Programme seeks to curb tick-borne diseases, particularly theileriosis.
The programme is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which is prioritising animal health and production through strengthening farmer knowledge, and skills in livestock production and health so as to enhance productivity.
Last year about 700 cattle succumbed to theileriosis while about 200 animals died from black leg in the province.
Last month Government declared war against January disease and directed that each Veterinary Extension Officer (VEO) must hold January disease awareness meetings at each dip tank under their inspectorate.
A majority of livestock farmers in Matabeleland region, particularly in communal areas, have adopted livestock farming as a commercial entity, a development that is set to boost the province’s herd and contribute to the growth of the national herd.
As part of efforts to grow the national herd, Government under the Second Republic has put in place measures to boost the production of livestock in both communal and resettlement areas.
President Mnangagwa launched the Presidential Livestock Scheme as part of efforts to grow the livestock sub-sector. Under the scheme, farmers are receiving legume seeds, fertilizers and forage sorghum among other inputs.
Distribution of the inputs is set to boost the creation of forage banks for improved animal nutrition. Under the Livestock Recovery Growth Plan (2020-25), Government has since identified diseases, as a barrier to livestock sector growth, which requires the nation to adopt intervention measures that position the sector to contribute effectively to economic development. — @skhumoyo2000
The Chronicle
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
A TOTAL of 24 deaths from 84 cases of Lumpy skin disease have been recorded in Matabeleland North province since the beginning of the year with Nkayi District being the worst affected, accounting for 74 percent of the cases.
In Gwamayaya area under Chief Dakamela, one villager lost four cattle from the disease while Chief Dakamela himself lost two beasts.
Lumpy skin is a viral cattle disease that is transmitted by insects such as mosquitoes, making it more prevalent in the rainy season. The disease manifests as characteristic skin nodules, fever, lachrymation, nasal discharge, and swelling of superficial lymph nodes.
The peak of the disease over the years is from January to April tailing off in May to June.
Chief Dakamela has since urged Government to subsidise the costs of vaccines.
He said the costs are beyond the reach of many villagers, and there are challenges in that its storage needs one to have a refrigerator.
“Our cattle are dying here. Personally, I have lost two and I believe this is the least number, others have recorded more deaths. To prevent this we must vaccinate our cattle but now the vaccine needs to be kept in ice to maintain a certain temperature all the time because it loses its medicinal value as long as it is not kept under the recommended temperatures,” said Chief Dakamela.
Chief Dakamela
A villager from the same area, Mr Mkhanyisi Dube said he lost four cattle from the disease. He said some people are cashing in on the dire situation by purchasing the vaccine and charging exorbitant fees of as much as US$10 to vaccinate a single beast.
Matabeleland North provincial veterinary officer Dr Fellistas Ndlovu said although lumpy skin outbreaks are generally associated with low death rates in herds, the economic consequences of the outbreak are prolonged loss of production in both dairy and beef cattle through loss of weight in diseased cattle.
Farmers using cattle as a source of draught power are also affected by reduced milk yield and reduced quality of hides and meat.
Dr Ndlovu encouraged farmers to vaccinate their animals timeously to prevent the disease and give supportive treatment to sick animals.
“The districts where the disease is most prevalent in Matabeleland North are Binga and Nkayi with isolated cases in the rest of the districts. Since the beginning of the year 86 cases of lumpy skin disease and 24 deaths were reported throughout the province with Nkayi reporting 74 percent of the cases,” she said.
Dr Ndlovu said control measures include isolation of sick animals and providing supportive treatment, restriction of movement of sick animals from one place to another and reactive vaccination. Supportive treatment include use of antibiotics as advised by a veterinarian, feeding and watering the sick animals, and treatment of wounds in case the lumps burst open.
“Vaccination in endemic areas like Nkayi should be done routinely on an annual basis, especially before the onset of the rainy season. The cost of vaccine has been found to be a limiting factor to some farmers, hence outbreaks occur,” said Dr Ndlovu.
In Insiza district, Matabeleland South, villagers have lost their cattle through tick-borne diseases although some deaths may not have been recorded with the outbreak forcing farmers to sell their beasts at very low prices of between US$100 and US$300 way below the usual value of up to as much as US$800.
According to the Department of Veterinary Services, tick-borne diseases are responsible for about 60 percent of annual losses in livestock.
Department of Veterinary Services
Government has introduced a plethora of measures to fight the deadly disease including dip tank rehabilitation, production of local vaccines, dipping, and introduction of the Presidential Tick Grease Programme among others.
Following these measures, the country has witnessed a 50 percent reduction in the number of tick-borne diseases. The Presidential Tick Grease Programme seeks to curb tick-borne diseases, particularly theileriosis.
The programme is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which is prioritising animal health and production through strengthening farmer knowledge, and skills in livestock production and health so as to enhance productivity.
Last year about 700 cattle succumbed to theileriosis while about 200 animals died from black leg in the province.
Last month Government declared war against January disease and directed that each Veterinary Extension Officer (VEO) must hold January disease awareness meetings at each dip tank under their inspectorate.
A majority of livestock farmers in Matabeleland region, particularly in communal areas, have adopted livestock farming as a commercial entity, a development that is set to boost the province’s herd and contribute to the growth of the national herd.
As part of efforts to grow the national herd, Government under the Second Republic has put in place measures to boost the production of livestock in both communal and resettlement areas.
President Mnangagwa launched the Presidential Livestock Scheme as part of efforts to grow the livestock sub-sector. Under the scheme, farmers are receiving legume seeds, fertilizers and forage sorghum among other inputs.
Distribution of the inputs is set to boost the creation of forage banks for improved animal nutrition. Under the Livestock Recovery Growth Plan (2020-25), Government has since identified diseases, as a barrier to livestock sector growth, which requires the nation to adopt intervention measures that position the sector to contribute effectively to economic development. — @skhumoyo2000
