By Tendai Chisiri
El Nino has resulted in prolonged dry spells that is due to delayed rains and this has affected livestocks due to shortage of feed.
Deputy director for Livestock Production ARDA services in the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development discussed how El Nino causes livestock deaths with farmers recently. She explained what farmers can do in order to reduce the effects of EL Nino on their livestock.
” We are experiencing excessive heat because of El Nino. Prolonged dry conditions lead to suppressed herbiage growth and with suppressed herbiage growth we are saying we have shortage of feed for our grazing livestock and also the available feed because it is in drying condition. It is also of poor quality. Its not able to meet the basic nutritive requirements for our livestock”, she said.
“Also because of prolonged dry conditions , we are saying we are facing water shortage and depending on the natural region in some cases it is very severe. The water shortage for both the livestock as well as the human consumption”, Nyahode added.
El Nino causes livestock deaths because with shortage of herbiage, the livestock are likely to go hungry because of shortage of feed supply. The livestock tend to be weakened physiologically. With weakened physiological condition livestock is susceptible to various conditions for example the livestock is susceptible to opportunistic diseases.
” Our livestocks can be trapped in mud once they get into mud conditions, they can’t easily get out of this because they are already weak. Also our livestock because they are grazing near the ground, they are susceptible to soil borne diseases”.
“Because of shortage of feed, our animals tend to ingest anything they find on the ground including foreign objects which can be inform of plastics or remains of clothing material or pieces of socks. Once ingested, all these can cause death in our animals “, she revealed.
” Also our animals may end up consuming or ingesting poisonous plants which maybe the only vegetative material that might still have remained green on the ground or in the fields whilst other edible plants maybe dry”, she added.
Farmers are urged to ensure that areas their handling facilities and also grazing areas are eliminated of foreign objects such as plastics.
Also see if there are poisonous plants that are prevalent in their area be the grazing area. The farmers should be aware of the symptoms of the poisonous plants are and what is that they should in order to curb the situation.
” If you are not sure of these, please I advise you farmers to visit your local extension agents. They can help you. Farmers should also ensure their drug cabinets are stocked with antibiotics to treat their animals” she said.
The government has approached partners to support with supplementary feeds. The supplementary feeds can be in the form of hay or it can be in the form of commercially produced so that farmers ensure that their livestock will maintain or gain good conditions.
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