Some farmers in the Eastern Free State are finding it hard to manage their number of livestock, especially in the winter season, when feed becomes scarce.

The agriculture coordinator in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality, Lebohang Moshoaliba, said having too many mouths to feed can become a serious problem. “Having livestock without food is a waste of time. We advise farmers to have a number (of animals) that will be easy for them to feed and take to the vet when they experience sickness.”

Although good water sources must be available during the season, placing livestock in wet living conditions could cause illness. “Water inside the kraal is unwanted and causes disease. The mud could also lead to coldness.” Feed in a wet kraal may also rot, leading to more waste and the potential to cause illness.

‘Losing one livestock is too much’

A farmer in the Dihlabeng local municipality area Daniel Mofokeng said he lost about three herds of cattle in the past three years due to a shortage of food. “I've learned a lot from that experience. Losing one livestock is too much.”

Farmers must store as much feed as possible during the summer to avoid losing their livestock in the winter.

Another farmer Abel Matsau said being unable to take his sick animals to the taught him a costly lesson. “I almost lost almost five pigs last year. That is when I learned the number of livestock I have must be equal to the budget, should it be needed to take them for treatment.”

OFM News/Tumelo Khotha dg