LETTER TO LIVESTOCK FARMERS

Sir,

Kindly allow me space in the newspaper to spread awareness among livestock farmers about our most essential and transparent services offered by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Veterinary Department, through the Swaziland Livestock Identification and Traceability System (SLITS).

SLITS is known as a system of livestock identification and traceability integrated within an animal health information system. Its focus is centred on making sure that each individual animal in Eswatini is traceable for life.

In this system animals are identified using two types of identifiers. The first being brand marks and this identify the animal to the country and to a group with the shield as a country mark on the left foreleg and the dip-tank number as a group mark on the left hind leg. All individual animals are branded as early as six months of age.

Designed

The second identifier, the ear tags, is designed for individual animal identification. Ear tags are applied by veterinary officials at dip tank level using approved applicators. Ear tags are applied on both ears of an animal. The one attached to the left ear is called the primary ear tag (leaflet like) and the one on the right ear is called the secondary ear tag (button like). They all have the same numbers. All individual animals are tagged as early as four weeks. These identification systems are compulsory to all farmers or kraal owners and they are guided by the Livestock Identification Act of 2001 as amended together with the SLITS Regulations of 2013.

Track

There is a computer system developed to track all the registration of dip tanks, kraals and kraal owners, tagged animals, ear tag management and distribution as well as all animal movement from one dip tank area to another. Animal health information is also tracked as well as brands. Every farmer should be aware of the benefits of this system which has yielded good results since it was implemented.

The system has benefited farmers by improving access to livestock markets, assisting in recovering lost and stolen animals, assisting in reducing stock theft within and across the borders of the country, assisting in disputes over animal ownership among farmers and assisting in production management. It has also played a vital role in assisting government in the containment of diseases during outbreaks as well as improving the efficiency of government controlled movement permits.

Farmers are urged to be part and parcel of the system by contributing positively as they are one of the stakeholders; they should report all cases they come across concerning livestock. It should be the responsibility of the kraal owner to ensure that all animals in his/her kraal are registered in a stock card with help from veterinary officials. Farmers should be aware of all conditions written in stock removal permits to avoid confusion. Farmers should be aware of the requirements of veterinary legislation. Farmers should report all incidences as early as possible to their nearest veterinary office before it causes havoc.

Thabo Dube
Lomahasha Vet

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