Zimpapers Logo

Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter

THIS year, the Department of Veterinary Services has destroyed 81 cattle plus some goats illegally moved across the country to ensure that both January disease and any possible foot-and-mouth are not transferred.

Legally farmers and livestock dealers need veterinary clearance to move livestock, this being the most effective way to prevent movement of animals spreading disease.

DVS Director Dr Jairus Machakwa said all rural provinces in Zimbabwe have been affected by theileriosis (January disease) except Matabeleland North. Control of cattle movement will safeguard the province from the disease and infested ticks and prevent the disease spreading into areas that are free at present. 

“Illegal movement of animals has been responsible for the spread of animal diseases including the dreaded January disease and, in the past, foot-and-mouth disease. This year the department has destroyed 81 cattle which were illegally moved across the country. DVS destroys illegally moved cattle as a disease control measure. A handful of goats have been destroyed too,” he said. 

Theileriosis, which is common between December and March is most prevalent in January hence the name January disease. The disease is spread through the bite of an infected brown ear tick.

Signs of an animal affected by January disease include swelling of the lymph nodes under the ears and on the shoulder, cloudiness of eyes, difficulty in breathing with froth from the nose and mouth. The affected animal collapses and dies within a few days.

Zimbabwe has to guard against foot and mouth. While the disease is not prevalent in tropical climates, it is a serious and lethal disease in temperate climes, so much that any country with foot and mouth is forbidden to export livestock or meat to most markets. 

While Zimbabwe has been keeping its domestic herds free of the disease, it needs constant vigilance to ensure they remain free, hence the action by the Vet Department. The red zone areas are usually close to bovines (buffalo) and so were set up to provide a buffer between wildlife areas and the main domestic cattle areas. 

In March, the department destroyed 12 cattle at Arda Sanyati after the animals were illegally moved from a foot and mouth red zone area.

The department is authorised to bury or burn the livestock which is moved without a permit. 

The Vet Department maintains a high alert system of surveillance on an ongoing basis and runs regular preventative vaccination programmes to prevent the spread of diseases.

According to the department, farmers who move tick-infested cattle are liable for prosecution, and so farmers must dip their cattle prior to movement to avoid the long arm of the law. The department is working with the police at road blocks throughout the country to ensure that all cattle moving to farms and markets have the necessary veterinary permits, and are tick free, as is required by the law. 

If farmers and traders comply with animal movement regulations, Zimbabwe is able to maintain a stable animal health situation where there will be no more outbreaks of diseases. The country can also safely resume exports especially to the European Union and rake in foreign currency once the herd grows a little further.