Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
17 November 2008
The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) is still reeling from the effects of the Foot- and-Mouth scare that broke out in Gantsi two weeks ago.
Among 1,500 cattle, some were infected and others had been in contact with the infected lot. The risk group was culled recently. The BMC's two abattoirs, which reopen today, will still not be able to export beef to lucrative European markets, they said in a statement.
BMC's CEO, Dr Motshudi Raborokwe, said they are re-opening the two abattoirs in Francistown and Lobatse in order to come to the rescue of farmers who have not been able to sell their stock in the last two weeks.
"The BMC board has decided to re-open the abattoirs...to stand with and support the producer in this time of need. It is important to BMC to maintain sector viability and assist producers at a time of crisis.
The Board has thus taken a long term strategic decision to keep the beef sector going and not let it collapse," said the CEO.
The Lobatse abattoir starts slaughtering cattle today for the next two weeks. On November 28, the abattoir will close down for maintenance.
The statement says the last batch for the year will be on November 27 before it reopens on January 12 next year to close on January 23.
The BMC boss says the two-week closure in January will be for the installation of new equipment currently on order from Australia.Meanwhile, the Francistown abattoir will close on December 5, with the last group arriving on December 3 before re-opening on January 5 for non-EU kill.
In October, all cattle slaughter facilities, including the Botswana Meat Commission abattoirs in Lobatse and Francistown, were closed due to the outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth disease.
The disease is an acute, highly contagious viral infection that inflicts cloven-hoofed animals. It can spread over great distances with the movement of infected or contaminated animals, objects and people.
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