Destock to prevent animal losses

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday March 18, 2015 09:49

Already the pastures are devoid of grass and soon farmers will have to find ways of feeding their animals. Dams and ponds are drying up. In some areas, animals are beginning to get stuck and die in the mud. True, government has not yet declared this a drought year, as that is the sole privilege of the President. But, so obvious are the signs of a drought year that yesterday acting minister of agriculture, Patrick Ralotsia, came short of going ahead of his boss.

He did, however, allude to massive crop failure and the fact that very few farmers planted this year. He also called on farmers to destock and leave only a few animals with which to restock. The minister’s advice is both timely and spot on. Way too many farmers, especially pastoral, lose many animals during a drought year such as this one. Animal farmers, especially those who keep cattle, which are not as hardy as sheep and goats, should start preparing for the full brunt of the drought.

The minister is not ringing alarm bells when he expresses the fact this is a very bad year for both pastoral and crop farmers. We have said it before, and say it again, that farmers need to make use of produce from their fields, even the wilting maize or sorghum crop, to make fodder for their animals.

This is the right time for cattle farmers to sell their animals to better manage the number of animals they would need to feedlot at the height of the drought.

It is also the right time to stock feed and supplements. It is a sensible thing to sell some of the animals, especially the feeble and unproductive, in order to buy feed and medicines for the few that remain. While at it, pastoral farmers should keep in mind the fact that driving animals to drinking spots that are too far from site during a drought period weakens them.

Where it is possible, farmers should move their animal kraals closer to boreholes and other drinking spots. They can do this, by among others, asking borehole owners to ‘accommodate’ their animals in their farms or ranches. Proceeds from the animals they sell should help them pay the usually small fees to water their animals.

If farmers adequately reduce the number of animals to manageable limits, such an arrangement should not cause damage to the environment.  We urge government to meanwhile spread the message to destock through available channels, such as Dikgotla, radios, and newspapers to teach farmers about the benefits of de-stocking, stocking  feed and medicines to prevent stock losses during drought.

Today’s thought

“As the year is unfolding to be a difficult one, I take this opportunity to urge farmers to destock. Old cows, oxen and cows without calves must be sold now when they are still in good condition and can attract good prices.” 

 

–Patrick Ralotsia