Delivery of animal health services: Opportunities and challenges in

extensive systems in Botswana

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT & FOOD SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SERVICES (DVS)

G. Gaopatwe

Workshop on the delivery of animal health services in extensive livestock production systems

Nairobi, 9-10 March 2017

OUTLINE

Map of Botswana- Disease control zonesCore mandate – DVSOrganizational structureDivision of Disease ControlResponsibilities of – Disease control divisionField Extension servicesExtension staffExtensive Livestock production system (Communal

Grazing areas)Opportunities in extensive livestock production systemsChallenges

DVS Structure

DIRECTOR

Dep Dir Disease

Control

Field Extension

Principal Vet Officer

Ext Agents

Import / Export

Epidemiology BAITS

Dep Dic Meat Hygiene

Dep Dir BNVL

Dep Dir Policy Dev & Compl

DVS - core mandate

To develop on a sustainable and competitive basis the Livestock Industry by improving farmer incomes, generating employment opportunities through the promotion and adoption of appropriate technologies and management practices.

Mandate Cont.….

Mandate of DVS is ensure that there is a healthy, productive and marketable herd in Botswana

Our policy is vaccinate against endemic diseases and remain free without vaccination for exotic diseases

Only DVS will approve diseases to be vaccinated for

Some vaccinations are compulsory (official) while others are voluntary

Disease control division

Veterinary Field Extension servicesEpidemiologyImport/export controlTraceability - Botswana Animal Information

and Traceability System (BAITS)

Disease control division - Responsibilities

Implementation of disease control strategy Vaccination programsDisease investigation /Clinical casesOfficial controls (Bio security, Import

export controls)Maintenance of disease control

infrastructure (Fences)Implementation of Disease surveillance plan Annual plans (Design and monitoring

implementation of surveillance plans)

Veterinary Field Extension Services

Responsible for Animal disease control and prevention through; Monitoring, control and prevention of

epizooticsClinical diagnosis and treatment of animalsProvision of extension service on animal

disease control and management Facilitation Livestock identification and

traceability (BAITS).Maintenance of disease control infrastructure

Staffing at districts/ Extension areas

22 districts/sub districts – Headed by Veterinarians

306 Extension areas manned by Technical staff (Ext agents)

Technical agents stay in their extension areas for regular and constant contact with farmers and quick response to farmer problems.

Farmers develop strong working relationship with extension agents

47 Disease control Fence maintenance camps with 314 fence repairing staff

Extensive Livestock production

Livestock census - Botswana Approx. 2.6 million cattle, 1million goats, 500 000 sheep, 200 000 donkeys,

50 000 horses and 50 000 pigs 80% in the hands of small farmers under communal / extensive farming The system assumes cattle post set up Livestock graze during the day and may be kraaled overnight to protect

them form predation Provision of drinking is in the hands of the owner. Farmers have free access to grazing areas: livestock graze on natural

pastures Movement of livestock within grazing areas difficult to control Difficult to coordinate disease control activities by individual farmers Uncoordinated husbandry practices by individual farmersFarmers have free access to public disease control infrastructureFarmers have free access to services provided by Gov. (vaccinations, extension information on animal health issues)

Animal Health support services by Gov.

(Notifiable Diseases: Diseases of Animals Act CAP: 37.01)Official vaccinations: Done entirely at Gov Expenses)AnthraxBlack legFoot and Mouth Disease (only in FMD infected zones)Other ServicesLivestock census for plenary purposesClinical diagnosis and treatment of animals- treatment drugs

bought by farmersFacilitation Livestock identification and traceability (BAITS).Issuance of movement permits Inter-zonal movements &

loadings to slaughter facilities BMC / local abattoirs)Feeding / livestock nutrition

Farmers driving cattle to a crush for vaccination - FMD

support services by Gov. Cont..

Extension information:(On animal health issues) Technical advices on livestock management Medium for Ext messages Ext agent to farmer (One on One) Farmer trainings at Rural Training Centres (RTCs) TV programs Radio programs Agric. Magazines, newsletters and pamphlets Private Vaccinations: (Farmers buy the vaccine for themselves) Vaccination is done through the guidance of Extension agents Lumpy Skin Disease Pasturellosis Enterotoxaemia (Small stock) African Horse Sickness Botulism

Cattle in the crush for vaccination

Opportunities

Gov. has an obligation to develop on a sustainable and competitive basis the Livestock Industry by improving farmer incomes, generating employment opportunities through the promotion and adoption of appropriate technologies and management practices. Botswana adopted and started using a digital/electronic technology to ensure that all cattle are uniquely identified (BAITS).The system has since grown and evolved to include communal farmers who are essentially under extensive production system. (BAITS) provide a window for compliance to lucrative beef

markets as an opportunity – income generation for Extensive livestock production farmers.

BAITS also addresses animal health and public health concerns.

Challenges

Control of livestock diseases difficult to undertake extensive production system– vast disease control zones

Small farmers (low income) unable to buy vaccines and dugs.

Low uptake of technologies (BAITS)

Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System(BAITS)

BAITS Cattle with BAITS tags for traceability

Thank youKe a leboga!!!

Botswana Animal Information and Traceability System (BAITS)

Traceability started year 2001 in Botswana Livestock Identification and Trace-back System (LITS) Requirement for export markets Reticular bolus with RF ID unique identification microchip number Bolus insertion animals done entirely by DVS – workload increased for DVS Ext officers LITS evolved to BAITS – launched in 2014 BITS tag also with RFID unique identification microchip number BAITS is farmer centric. Tags are applied on cattle by owners (Farmers) Farmers able to access and upload information into the BAITS data base (Name, address, ext area, crush

point, color of animal, sex, age owner brand etc) Other transactions by farmer; transfer of ownership, arrival of animals at new crush point, treatment

records etc Other information by DVS; vaccination records (notifiable diseases), movement permits, disease

surveillance records BAITS tags = P20 (USD2) BAITS addresses market requirements / animal health issues. BAITS tagging: 3months old calves Gov. role: make tags available to farmers manage the national data base Ensure that cattle are market compliant (Ext officers at farm level)