A Beitbridge farmer is counting the losses after a herd of 36 goats drowned in a stream in the Mabane area while hiding from the rain.
It is suspected that the goats were seeking shelter under a broken bridge when water suddenly flooded, sweeping them away.
The owner of the goat has not yet been identified.
“I was looking for my goats along Old Bulawayo Road behind Mabane Business Center around 5pm when I found the goat,” said Mr Oliver Mulia, a local villager.
“Indications suggest that they may have been hiding under a broken bridge due to rain all day. They could have drowned when the river overflowed.
“Its owner has not yet been identified, and the ear tags and breed are not from a home in our village.”
Mr Mulia said the incident was a sad development for the farmers, given that livestock production is one of the main economic pillars of most community farmers.
Beitbridge Agritex District Chairman, Mr Masauso Mawocha, said he was yet to obtain further details about the incident.
On average, goats sell for between R1,000 and R1,200 in the local market depending on size and age, he said.
Mr. Maucha advised goat farmers to ensure that their livestock are raised during the rainy season so that they do not get washed away or become vulnerable to diseases such as pneumonia.
“We are yet to get a lot of details on this. But this is a big loss for the farmer. A loss of at least R36,000 is too much,” he said.
“As a department, we advise farmers to ensure that they raise their livestock so that they do not get washed away or become vulnerable to disease during the rainy season.
“For goats, farmers should use pens on higher ground, which cannot be easily soaked so the animals do not suffer from foot rot.”
Beitbridge District is a drought-prone area where animal husbandry and irrigation agriculture are the main source of livelihood for community farmers.
It is estimated that there are 250,000 cattle, 200,000 goats, 80,000 sheep, 37,000 donkeys, 2,000 pigs, 6,000 dogs, and 28,000 birds in the area. Chronicle
