National studbook empowers local breeders - BMC chief

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday March 14, 2012 00:00

 

Addressing a Botswana livestock improvement workshop in Gaborone yesterday, Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) chief executive officer (CEO) Dr David Falepau said that the 2009 Livestock Improvement Act allows for the improvement of the livestock industry through the establishment of the Animal Advisory Board and the National Studbook.

A studbook, also known as a breed registry or register, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known.

Dr Falepau said that the introduction of the association will allow for the appointment of a registrar and a requirement for registration of livestock breeders societies, semen collectors, embryo transferors, inoculators, centres for artificial insemination and animals registered or approved for collection of semen, ova, or embryos.

He said that the implementation of the Act is critical because for the first time it will be possible to register local breed societies and schemes for the monitoring of performance of breeds.

'This Act replaces the old Registration of Livestock Act (Cap 36:04) of 1921, which allowed local stud breeders to register with the South African stud book.

The association will be composed of representatives from stakeholders like the Department of Agricultural Research, BMC, farmers associations and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Dr Falepau said that the workshop presented stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss and develop robust strategies to become the best in the world at producing animals of good genetic quality that can produce profitability under the current climatic conditions. Currently Botswana has two breeds, being Tswana breed and the recently introduced Musi breed.

He stated that the livestock industry, particularly the beef sub sector, plays an important role in the country's economy in terms of foreign exchange, family income and employment.

 'The value of output from the livestock sector is estimated at about 80 percent of the total value of output of agriculture and allied sectors. Most of this is contributed by the beef sector alone,' he said.