Roadrunner Chickens and Waning Disease Resistance

There is heightened interest in raising indigenous chickens in the country at the moment. As the indigenous birds are fast gaining commercial recognition and widespread consumer appreciation, there has been an upsurge in the number of players joining this very promising poultry value chain. The major players in question are the breeders of the indigenous birds, fertilized eggs producers, hatchery operators and the farmers who raise and fatten the birds for the market. The sector is fast getting so organized that today one can procure any quantity of day old indigenous chicks with little effort, a feat which was not attainable in the five years ago. Nevertheless, as the sector strives to take root challenges are arising and hounding the farmers, particularly the new entrants. In the past few weeks, I have been inundated by farmers’ emails and calls regarding the issue of disease resistance of the indigenous birds. The major concern raised is to the effect that the farmers are observing a significant departure from the norm in terms of the birds’ ability to deal with diseases as well as general vitality. Traditionally our indigenous birds are famed for their hardiness, adaptability, high disease resistance and low maintenance. However, these highly sought-after characteristics seem to be waning away as the intensification of the indigenous birds gathers momentum. This article shall tackle some of the major reasons for the above-mentioned shift from the norm and attempt to proffer some practical solutions to these challenges.....

 https://agriuniverse.co.zw/technical/170-technical-matters/tech-poultry/217-roadrunner-chickens-and-waning-disease-resistance.html

Newcastle disease outbreak hits Bulilima district

NEWCASTLE disease outbreak has hit Bulilima district, Matabeleland South province, leaving villagers counting heavy losses of their chickens.

The epicentre of the disease was reported to be village 20 in Dombodema, where thousands of birds reportedly died over the past few days.

The Department of Veterinary Services has quarantined the area and imposed strict restrictions on the movement of poultry in the district.....

 https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/10/newcastle-disease-outbreak-hits-bulilima-district/

Newcastle outbreak scare in Midlands

A SUSPECTED outbreak of the deadly Newcastle disease has been reported in the Midlands district of Mvuma with farmers having already lost a number of chickens in the past six days.

Some farmers who spoke to Southern Eye said the disease had wiped out chickens from several homesteads, leaving the chicken runs virtually empty in the past few days.....

 https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/10/newcastle-outbreak-scare-in-midlands/

Vet Department issues swine fever warning

THE Veterinary Services Department has warned farmers of a potential swine fever outbreak following reported cases of the epidemic in Manicaland province.

In a press statement the Veterinary Services said a fever outbreak has been detected in free-range pigs in Nyamaropa and Nyakomba areas in Manicaland Province.

“The communiqué serves to notify all our stakeholders of a suspected African swine fever outbreak in free-range pigs in Nyamaropa and Nyakomba areas in Nyanga North, Manicaland province,” reads part of the statement.

The Veterinary Services said farmers in the area reported that the deaths of pigs began during the last week of January 2019 and as of February 7, when the provincial veterinary officer for Manicaland province visited the area, a total of 156 deaths had been recorded out of an estimated population of 678 pigs.

An autopsy conducted on a pig, which had died on the same day of the visit revealed post mortem lesions consistent with African swine fever, said the Veterinary Services.

“African swine fever is a highly contagious haemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is responsible for serious economic and production losses,” reads part of the statement.

“It is a transboundary animal disease, which can be spread by live or dead pigs, domestic or wild and pork products. There is no approved vaccine against African swine fever.”

The Veterinary Services advised the Pig Industry Board (PIB), Pig Producers’ Association of Zimbabwe (PPAZ) and pig farmers to intensify bio-security measures around their pig establishments and help with countrywide African swine fever awareness campaigns.

Veterinary Services is mandated to transform the livestock sector to attain sustainably high levels of production, processing and marketing in order to improve livelihoods and meet the needs of human nutritional wellness and economic growth. — @queentauruszw.

 https://www.chronicle.co.zw/vet-department-issues-swine-fever-warning/

Pig farming – How this business is changing lives in Africa and everything you need to start your own

Interested in a pig farming business in Africa? You’re about to learn a few things that will blow your mind.

It may surprise you to know that pork (pig meat) is the most widely consumed meat in the world, followed by poultry and beef. Surprised, right?

The value of trade in pig products around the world runs into billions of dollars every year and Africa enjoys less than 5 percent of this action. China, with a fifth of the world’s population, is both the largest producer and net importer of pig products on the planet!

As you will find out in this article, pig products have some of the most versatile uses on earth. Pigs probably have the highest profit potential of all farm animals because they cost little to feed and maintain, and produce much more meat than cattle, goats and sheep!

Another cattle disease outbreak

Theileriosis, a cattle disease also known as January Disease, has spread to Mashonaland West Province, where it is killing hundreds of beasts.....

 https://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/another-cattle-disease-outbreak/