Berea, Jan. 12 — The Department of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition through its Teyateyaneng Resource Centre has encouraged small stock farmers to refrain from grazing their flock at wetlands as they risk contacting diseases like Blue Tongue.
Teyateyaneng Resource Center, Department of Livestock Area Technical Officer (ATO) Ms. Itumelemeng Lekhafola Masupha issued a warning on Monday where she urged small stock farmers to be extra vigilant of any possible symptoms on their flock.
Ms. Masupha said lately the country has been receiving some increased rainfall and as a result a lot of swampy areas have been formed, as well as wet and humid and warm conditions that create a perfect breeding place for mosquitoes that can transmit blue tongue viruses.
She pointed out that both external and internal parasites are common around this time of rainy season, and the affected small stock can present symptoms which include excessive saliva, swollen tongue and lips and as well as nasal discharge.
ATO Teyateyaneng Resource Centre further said the infected sheep may as well show weight loss, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, infected lambs may die, sheep may show fluffy wool and while ewes might experience miscarriage.
She said all things are lost to the small stock farmers, hence they are urged to avoid grazing at wetlands, adding that they should provide sheep with medication after every two months.
Ms. Masupha further said that in case the infected sheep can die, farmers are urged to bury it in order to avoid the spread of disease.
She also advised them to keep a watchful eye on their small stock for any possible signs of diseases and report to the nearest Resource Centre.
According to the World Organization for Animal Health, in the countries where blue tongue is endemic the impact is largely on loss of trade due to restrictions and costs of surveillance, health testing and vaccination.
It further highlights that vaccination is used as the most effective and practical measure to minimize losses related to the disease and potentially interrupt the cycle from the infected animal vector along with insect control measures.
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