By Nape Masemola
Dr Lorraine Nong, State Vet at Sekhukhune West states that the purpose is to share information on the prevention and management of livestock diseases.
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently held an information sharing session with livestock farmers at Rathoke village in Ephraim Mogale Municipality.
The purpose, according to Dr Lorraine Nong, was to share information on the prevention and management of livestock diseases, use of technology to combat the increasing rate of stock theft and establishment of silages to store livestock feed, in a bid to increase livestock production.
In her presentation on livestock diseases, Dr Lee-Ann Minnie’s focus was on contagious abortion, which is normally referred to as Brucellosis. Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that affect the reproductive health of cows, causes abortion, stillbirths, reduced mild production and infertility in cows.
Dr Lee-Ann hinted that Brucellosis is caused by bacteria Brucella and symptoms associated with it comprises of fever, loss of appetite, weaknesses, and sweating, among other factors. She continued that the disease can be treated with antibiotic and put an animal on vaccination programme to control and prevent the disease.
Presenting on identification of external and internal parasites, Dr Mentor Mothusi echoed with Dr Lee-Ann that treatment of diseases in animals can go a long way in benefiting animals’ health and growth. Dr Mothusi said the effect of parasites may lead to the weakening of the immune system of animals due to the bites by external parasites while internal parasites live in the blood.
Farmers were exposed to livestock improvements techniques through the programme called, “Kaonafatšo Ya Dikgomo (KyD)”, the scheme that seeks to encourage participation by small and emerging farmers in livestock economy. They were further taken through the use of technology to combat the increasing rate of stock theft and establishment of silages to store livestock feed.
Dr Matome Madilindi from ARC promote the use of DNA technology in his presentation, which he said it offers promising solution to combat stock theft. He said that it contains genetic information and forms the blueprint of life of a living organism and is unique.
In conclusion, Thomas Langa took farmers through the process of silage preparation techniques whereby grass or green fodder is compacted and stored in an airtight condition, typically in a silo without first been dried and used for animal feeding during winter when there is less grazing
Demonstration of silage preparations during the livestock farmers day held at Rathoke Village
