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Cattle Welfare Begins With The Calf

Cattle Welfare Begins With The Calf

Weaner production viable

Weaner production viable - BOPA | 18 November 2009

18 November, 2009

JWANENG - The chairman of Southern District Beef farmers Association (SDBFA), Mr Tshepo Masire has urged farmers to venture into weaner production as it is not only viable but also environmentally friendly.

He said this during the associations annual field day at the Malote cattle post over the weekend. The event was hosted by Mr Douglas Kono.

Mr Masire said the weaner production was viable as seven to eight months old calf are sold to feed lotters thus the farmer spends nothing on the off spring that has been surviving on the mothers milk.

The chairperson said they give the mother three months to recuperate and after that it is ready for mating. He said selling the young one will also give the expecting cow to concentrate on the unborn. Mr Masire said the weaner production also promotes better pasture management as the grazing land will not be over populated.

The chairman said farmers are slowly getting into the production and said it is his desire to see more realising its benefits.

The SDBFA said they are also faced with challenges, which are also a setback to the Ministry of Agricultures aim to increase the national herd. He said some vaccines for diseases such as Borvine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) should be included in the national vaccine.

The chairman said currently, it is their responsibility to ensure that their cattle are vaccinated for the disease and said it is costly though its benefits are high.

Mr Masire said that some farmers sometimes keep a number of bulls which are not productive.

The chairman said for them to realise their dream there is need to increase artificial insemination camps. He said currently there are only two camps despite the number of cattle in the area.

Mr Masire said allowing five cows per farmers for the procedure is also a disadvantage because not all of the cattle taken there will conceive.

He said the number should be increased. BOPA