Dozens and dozens of cattle are dying to the extent that some farmers are left with nothing
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Also refer to this news report titled "January disease kills 2 000 cattle", which we have also reproduced below.
"At least 2 000 cattle have died of January disease, also known as Theileriosis — a tick-borne disease common between December and March — with Government is urging farmers to intensify dipping of their livestock as a prevention measure. Government has also intensified awareness campaigns in affected areas that include Goromonzi, Bindura, Chegutu and Chivhu.
The disease is spread through the bite of the brown ear tick. Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement’s Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services director Dr Josphat Nyika yesterday confirmed the deaths. He said the number deaths could be higher as some cases were not reported. Dr Nyika said his department was aware of the outbreak of the January disease and had deployed teams to assess the situation and educate farmers on preventive measures.
He said most farmers were not dipping their cattle, further worsening the situation. Dr Nyika said farmers, especially in Domboshava, preferred spraying cattle on their own, but were not following the correct procedures.
“The major challenges are irregular dipping,” he said. “Most dip tanks are not on the recommended weekly dipping due to lack of dipping chemicals. There is also low turnout at dip tanks. Most farmers are not willing to take their cattle for dipping at the communal dip tanks. Some prefer conducting the operation themselves, but may do it in the wrong way and this is not effective in controlling ticks.
“The other challenge is that there are fake chemicals on the market and some farmers can not tell the difference as the packaging and labelling is the same. Some unscrupulous dealers are packaging tea and selling it as dip. Farmers should buy dipping chemicals from reputable retailers. There is also shortage of the drugs to treat the disease especially Burparvaquione,” he said.
Farmers are supposed to pay a dipping fee of $2 per animal per year. Most farmers complain that the fee is too high and beyond their reach. Dr Nyika said farmers should consider the value of their animals and sacrifice to pay the dipping fees. “It costs around $60 to buy treatment of tick-borne disease and the medication can only administer three head of cattle,’ he said. “This means a farmer will have to fork out $20 to treat one cow. It is cheaper to pay $2 per animal per year than buy treatment.
“We are carrying out education and awareness campaigns and we need cooperation from farmers, especially through bringing their cattle for dipping. We have distributed 22 500 pamphlets to farmers in affected areas. All farmers should ensure their cattle are taken for dipping to ensure ticks do not mature to the stage of transmitting diseases.” Dr Nyika said farmers should ensure the animal was soaked when spraying.
An animal requires at least three to five litres of dip wash. It is important to have the correct dilution rate that is recommended by the manufacturer. “For the treatment chemical to be effective, farmers should combine the chemical with tick grease,” said Dr Nyika. “The tick grease should be applied in the ear, under the tail and tail brush.
“Farmers can trim the tail brush. They should also seek assistance from local veterinary extension worker.” Signs of an animal affected by January disease include swelling of the lymph nodes under the ears and on the shoulder, cloudiness of the eyes, difficulty in breathing with froth from the nose and mouth.
The affected animal collapses and dies within few days. January disease is a notifiable disease in Zimbabwe and when suspected farmers are compelled by the law to report to the Division of Veterinary Services."
"At least 2 000 cattle have died of January disease, also known as Theileriosis — a tick-borne disease common between December and March — with Government is urging farmers to intensify dipping of their livestock as a prevention measure. Government has also intensified awareness campaigns in affected areas that include Goromonzi, Bindura, Chegutu and Chivhu.
The disease is spread through the bite of the brown ear tick. Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement’s Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services director Dr Josphat Nyika yesterday confirmed the deaths. He said the number deaths could be higher as some cases were not reported. Dr Nyika said his department was aware of the outbreak of the January disease and had deployed teams to assess the situation and educate farmers on preventive measures.
He said most farmers were not dipping their cattle, further worsening the situation. Dr Nyika said farmers, especially in Domboshava, preferred spraying cattle on their own, but were not following the correct procedures.
“The major challenges are irregular dipping,” he said. “Most dip tanks are not on the recommended weekly dipping due to lack of dipping chemicals. There is also low turnout at dip tanks. Most farmers are not willing to take their cattle for dipping at the communal dip tanks. Some prefer conducting the operation themselves, but may do it in the wrong way and this is not effective in controlling ticks.
“The other challenge is that there are fake chemicals on the market and some farmers can not tell the difference as the packaging and labelling is the same. Some unscrupulous dealers are packaging tea and selling it as dip. Farmers should buy dipping chemicals from reputable retailers. There is also shortage of the drugs to treat the disease especially Burparvaquione,” he said.
Farmers are supposed to pay a dipping fee of $2 per animal per year. Most farmers complain that the fee is too high and beyond their reach. Dr Nyika said farmers should consider the value of their animals and sacrifice to pay the dipping fees. “It costs around $60 to buy treatment of tick-borne disease and the medication can only administer three head of cattle,’ he said. “This means a farmer will have to fork out $20 to treat one cow. It is cheaper to pay $2 per animal per year than buy treatment.
“We are carrying out education and awareness campaigns and we need cooperation from farmers, especially through bringing their cattle for dipping. We have distributed 22 500 pamphlets to farmers in affected areas. All farmers should ensure their cattle are taken for dipping to ensure ticks do not mature to the stage of transmitting diseases.” Dr Nyika said farmers should ensure the animal was soaked when spraying.
An animal requires at least three to five litres of dip wash. It is important to have the correct dilution rate that is recommended by the manufacturer. “For the treatment chemical to be effective, farmers should combine the chemical with tick grease,” said Dr Nyika. “The tick grease should be applied in the ear, under the tail and tail brush.
“Farmers can trim the tail brush. They should also seek assistance from local veterinary extension worker.” Signs of an animal affected by January disease include swelling of the lymph nodes under the ears and on the shoulder, cloudiness of the eyes, difficulty in breathing with froth from the nose and mouth.
The affected animal collapses and dies within few days. January disease is a notifiable disease in Zimbabwe and when suspected farmers are compelled by the law to report to the Division of Veterinary Services."
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We refer you to a news report titled "January disease kills 2 000 cattle" which we reproduce in full below. This report also includes the measures which should be taken. We, however, urge you to contact the offices of the Veterinary Services Department nearest to you.
"OVER 2 000 cattle have succumbed to tick-borne disease with farmers raising concern that if new supplies of dip stocks were not procured in time, current dip stocks will run out over the next few weeks and trigger more deaths.
n its industry update, Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) said the country has lost over 2000 cattle to tick-borne disease this season.
“January disease is another serious problem in cattle, with over 2 000 cattle deaths already recorded from tick-borne disease this season. Farmers are advised to maintain dipping regimes,” reads part of the update.
“There is concern in the livestock industry that if new supplies are not procured in time, current dip stocks will run out in the next few weeks.”
Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement deputy minister, David Marapira, urged farmers to dip their animals regularly.
“Tick-borne disease is caused by people who are not dipping their animals and would like to encourage our farmers to dip their animals,” he said.
The disease, is very common during the rainy season due to high tick prevalence that has thrived due to irregular cattle dipping by most farmers.
Last year, the disease claimed hundreds of cattle in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces, leaving farmers distraught.
Theileriosis is a disease caused by a species of theileria; a blood-borne parasite that only affects cattle and is primarily transmitted by ticks that feed on cattle.
A single infected tick can spread the disease to another animal through its saliva when it feeds on it.
Symptoms of the disease include, decrease in milk production, depression, weakness and difficulty in breathing for the animal, followed by rapid and shallow breaths.
Affected animals also experience an increased heart rate, and eventually die after two or three weeks.
LMAC said beef cattle, dairy cattle and pig producers were advised to practice strict biosecurity as a preventive measure, as foot and mouth disease can affect all cloven-hoofed animals, with pig and dairy cattle operations most seriously affected.
Currently, the government is battling to contain the outbreak of the deadly FMD which hit Chegutu in Mashonaland West Province, thereby disrupting country’s beef supplies.
The government, through the Veterinary Services Department, has since suspended cattle movement into Harare."
"OVER 2 000 cattle have succumbed to tick-borne disease with farmers raising concern that if new supplies of dip stocks were not procured in time, current dip stocks will run out over the next few weeks and trigger more deaths.
n its industry update, Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) said the country has lost over 2000 cattle to tick-borne disease this season.
“January disease is another serious problem in cattle, with over 2 000 cattle deaths already recorded from tick-borne disease this season. Farmers are advised to maintain dipping regimes,” reads part of the update.
“There is concern in the livestock industry that if new supplies are not procured in time, current dip stocks will run out in the next few weeks.”
Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement deputy minister, David Marapira, urged farmers to dip their animals regularly.
“Tick-borne disease is caused by people who are not dipping their animals and would like to encourage our farmers to dip their animals,” he said.
The disease, is very common during the rainy season due to high tick prevalence that has thrived due to irregular cattle dipping by most farmers.
Last year, the disease claimed hundreds of cattle in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces, leaving farmers distraught.
Theileriosis is a disease caused by a species of theileria; a blood-borne parasite that only affects cattle and is primarily transmitted by ticks that feed on cattle.
A single infected tick can spread the disease to another animal through its saliva when it feeds on it.
Symptoms of the disease include, decrease in milk production, depression, weakness and difficulty in breathing for the animal, followed by rapid and shallow breaths.
Affected animals also experience an increased heart rate, and eventually die after two or three weeks.
LMAC said beef cattle, dairy cattle and pig producers were advised to practice strict biosecurity as a preventive measure, as foot and mouth disease can affect all cloven-hoofed animals, with pig and dairy cattle operations most seriously affected.
Currently, the government is battling to contain the outbreak of the deadly FMD which hit Chegutu in Mashonaland West Province, thereby disrupting country’s beef supplies.
The government, through the Veterinary Services Department, has since suspended cattle movement into Harare."
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