What we need to do is to test its eating quality and promote it in steak houses in the same way that the Scottish are doing with Aberdeen Angus. Livestock expert *Prof OARABILE R. MADIBELA argues that we need to brand and promote Tswana cattle in the same manner the South Africans are doing with Nguni cattle.
Farming is not always smooth sailing and many people term it a risky business. Throughout their lives Batswana livestock farmers have encountered one problem or another. Some problems could be mild but some have precarious outcome. Droughts, lack of feeds for livestock even during non-drought years, prevalence of diseases, lack of markets for small stock, lack of managerial skills and credit especially for smallholder farmers are problems usually encountered. However, in the past year the beef farmers had to endure the most difficult challenges of foot and mouth and the closure of the EU beef market. The out-break of foot and mouth disease and the closure of Botswana Meat Commission has taken such a toll on the beef industry that farmers and the nation have become emotional about the subject. This is understandable because cattle contribute immensely to the livelihood of Batswana and to the national economy.
