More restrictions on livestock

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has put out a notice again this week that the current restrictions on the movement of livestock, are expanded to cover larger areas due to fears over the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

The acting Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Mr Abraham Nehemia said that the prevailing effects of water and grazing shortages experienced in the northern communal ares (NCA) has led to further restrictions on the movement of livestock.
The newly detected areas close to the areas already infected with foot and mouth disease will carry new restrictions on the movement of animals.
In the foot and mouth disease containment area, animal movement restrictions will apply immediately. “This allows for the movement of cloven-hoofed animals withing the containment areas between regions for grazing and watering purposes. The direct slaughter and movement of cloven-hoofed animals within the containment area is allowed within 24 hours.”
These restrictions will apply immediately to areas such as the entire Ohangwena Region, areas in the Kavango West; Mpungu constituency and in Omusati to parts of the constituencies north of the C46 road.
In the Oshikoto and Oshana Regions more specifically the Okankolo, Onayena, Oniipa, Eengodi and both the Onyanya and Omuthiya constituencies north of the B1 road.
The specific areas in the Oshana Region are the Ondangwa constituency north of the B1 road and C46 road, the Okaku, Ongwediva and Oshakati East and West constituencies also north of the C46 road, and the Okatana constituency from north of the C46 and D3609 road up to the point where the Oshana and Ohangwena borders meet.
The ministry said no movement of cloven-hoofed animals is allowed in the infected areas. The only movement of cloven-hoofed animals is allowed within the infected area for grazing and watering purposes within the same region provided there are no active foot and mouth disease clinical cases recorded within the last 28 days in a 10 km radius.
The movement of animals for direct slaughter should only happen in a space of 24 hours. Movement into the areas approved by the Directorate of Veterinary Services for animals to be held in municipal pre-slaughter facilities will also allowed.
The containment areas include the surrounding areas including the whole of the Northern Communal Areas west of the Shamagorwa Veterinary Fence, excluding the infected area.
Nehemia said in the notice that efforts to control foot and mouth disease in the northern communal areas is ongoing despite hardships that animal movement restrictions have caused.