Veterinary alters cattle movement

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday March 23, 2011 00:00

Director of Veterinary Services, Kgosietsile Motsu has said the revised protocol will enhance traceability of livestock. Under the new dispensation, cattle movement permits will only be issued six weeks after bolus insertion and not three days like before. The changes require that cattle should be resident in a farm or cattle post for a minimum of 40 days before the permit is issued. Previously days of residence were not considered before a permit was issued.

A minimum of 90 days cattle residency in a territory before a permit is issued has been introduced. Previously there was no time limit. Motsu explained that the 90 days will not be required in a case of direct movement to the export abattoirs from the territory of birth.

He said that farmers will need to complete a declaration form attesting that cattle have been resident for 40 days in their farm or cattle post or 90 days in a territory. While it was optional before, it is now mandatory for farmers to record and report new livestock arrivals to the nearest veterinary officials. 'Farmers could report new livestock to veterinary (officers) or choose not to, but this time every arrival of new livestock must be reported to veterinary services,' Motsu said.

Farmers are now required to utilise centralised loading facilities, which are currently operational in Molepolole, Francistown, Lokalane (Ghanzi), Dibete, Lephephe, Serule and Thalamabele. Motsu said that even though farmers had been at liberty to transport their livestock to export abattoirs by any means, they would now be required to use trucks. 'Where there are no centralised loading facilities, all cattle going to export abattoirs should be trucked and not trekked,' he said.

He advised farmers to purchase hand held bolus readers at Livestock Advisory Centres (LACs) to check insertion status of their animals before movement to centralised issuing facilities.