Local farmers are trying to improve goat quality by crossbreeding goat types that grow faster and yield more meat.

A SANYATI farmer is counting his loses after losing 40 goats to suspected urea poisoning after they consumed winter supplement blocks meant for cattle.
Moses Chambe told The Financial Gazette that the goats perished on September 30 after consuming above normal quantities of urea from the supplements blocks.
“They died on the night of September 30 and I rushed there on Monday morning with a (veterinary) doctor,” said the farmer who crossbreeds Boer goats and the local Mashona breed.
“We are still waiting for the full lab results but we strongly suspect urea toxicity. They ate winter supplements blocks that were feeding my cattle.”
Local farmers are trying to improve goat quality by crossbreeding goat types that grow faster and yield more meat.
Chambe, who is left with 125 goats after the accident, said one of the Boer bucks that died was valued at between $1 500 and $2 000.
A veterinary doctor who attended to the goats indicated that there was likelihood that the goats had consumed too much urea from the winter supplements blocks. The blocks usually contain protein supplements with micro minerals and trace minerals that animals need in the dry season. Some of the minerals can be harmful if taken in large quantities.
“High humidity makes these blocks soft and animals then nibble off chunks instead of licking small quantities, leading to higher urea consumption and likelihood of urea poisoning even in larger animals. (Farmers should) avoid these in summer and store in dry place.”
The dead goats were burnt on the instruction of the veterinary doctor.
“For aesthetic reasons, meat from animals that die without slaughtering or are salvaged should not be eaten,” said the veterinary doctor.
“The condition, be it poison or disease, will end up affecting humans. There are many zoonotic diseases… anthrax included,” he said.
“Urea is a bi-product of protein metabolism. It’s not used in our body and is excreted via the kidneys. Excess urea damages all systems of the body including the brain, heart, kidneys and nervous system. Symptoms of poisoning include abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea, tingling, numbness, severe muscle weakness etc.
“Now, if people get sick from urea from consumption of healthy meat, imagine what happens when one consumes urea-poisoned meat? One ends up in the ICU (intensive care unit) or needing dialysis, all for the love of contaminated meat.”
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