We won’t be having any cattle for display this year due to the foot and mouth disease that hit the province

The Veterinary Services Department has banned the exhibition of cattle at this year’s edition of the Midlands Agricultural Show in an effort to contain the spread of foot and mouth disease that hit parts of the province two months ago.

By Simon Phiri

The move is aimed at blocking movement of cattle within the region to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the province and the country at large.

Gokwe South and North districts were the worst affected areas with some local farmers reportedly losing several beasts since the outbreak started.

The Veterinary Services department revealed earlier this month that more than 28 000 cattle had been vaccinated against the disease, but fears were rampant that animal movement in the area could trigger another outbreak.

Midlands Show Society president Pascal Marangoni told journalists on Tuesday that no cattle will be exhibited at the annual show due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

He said farmers will exhibit rabbits instead.

“We won’t be having any cattle for display this year due to the foot and mouth disease that hit the province recently. It’s really a sad development for the farmers and for everyone else,” Muringani said.

“Government is struggling to get vaccines but we can all help beat the disease. This for the first time, farmers are going to exhibit rabbits.”

Midlands provincial veterinary officer Thomas Sibanda confirmed the development saying Gweru District was one of the areas still under quarantine.

Sibanda told Southern Eye yesterday that the move would prevent the foot and mouth disease from affecting more beasts and spilling into other farming areas.

“There won’t be any cattle to exhibit at the Midlands Agricultural Show because Gweru is an area still under quarantine,” he said.

“We can’t tell when the quarantine will end but we are monitoring the disease as we continue with the vaccination programme.”

Movement of cattle in the province has since been prohibited and cattle were being sold only for direct slaughter.