Livestock farmers battling with tick problem; claim they are being neglected

Livestock farmers have slammed the Ministry and the Department of Agriculture, headed by Hon Eugene Hamilton, over the state of the federation’s livestock industry which is being crippled by disease.

Scores of farmers have suffered losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“We the livestock farmers are suffering,” said a Mr. Dorset, who indicated that he had to burn other cattle due to a tick problem.

He said there is no bayticol on the island to treat the livestock, which are dying by the hundreds.

Dorset also claimed the veterinarians have been visiting and the outbreak has resulted in loss in income and expenditure.

“Every minute I have to be spending, spending, spending and it appears that I have to give up my livestock farming, which I have been ding as a young boy with my parents,” said Dorset, who asked Liburd to tell minister Hamilton the failings of his ministry.

“I rear sheep, goats and pigs and now cattle. We had the same problem in the 1980’s and dips were built to treat the animals to get their skin clean up,” he said.

Dorset said livestock farmers around the island have been complaining “and they cannot get the treatment to give the animals.”

The livestock farmer said it appears that not enough of the pest control was ordered.

“It has livestock farmers with 25, 50, 60 and over 100 head of cattle. Even persons who have horses are suffering.”

Dorset also suggested that livestock farmers have been neglected by agricultural authorities.

In an earlier interview Agriculture Director Melvin James indicated that his department was facing some challenges in procuring the chemical bayticol.

Other farmers have also indicated that there must be a swift resolution to the tick problem, for fear of decimation of entire livestock herds.