Beef industry under heightened measles threat

Looming crisis: BMC is losing about 6% of its throughput to measles
Looming crisis: BMC is losing about 6% of its throughput to measles

SELEBI-PHIKWE: The Minister of Agriculture, Patrick Ralotsia has said cases of measles are escalating and may seriously impact on the country’s beef industry.

Speaking in an interview, Ralotsia said Botswana Meat Commission records a six percent loss in all the cattle it receives for slaughter due to the disease.

He added that the most affected are cattle from communal areas especially those around the Ngami area. He further noted that the rate of affection in areas around Lake Ngami area reaches as much as 13% of the cattle.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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