Botswana: Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi yesterday received 162 breeding cattle purchased from the State of Texas, the United States of America (USA).
The breeding cattle will be used in the production of germplasm in the form of embryos and semen for both local and export markets. They will also contribute towards the national goal of increasing the national herd and improving the genetic merit.
When receiving the cattle at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, President Masisi stated that the Government is committed to supporting all initiatives to restore dignity in the livestock sector. He said local farmers would be able to access top quality genetics to improve their cattle breeds for participation in the global market.
President Masisi revealed that the Government had invested P25 million in procuring the live breeding cattle adding that it is in line with the to revive the livestock sub-sector and ensure value chain development. The RESET AGENDA livestock sub-sector contributes to rural livelihoods in terms of income generation, employment and food security.
President Masisi said the Live Breeding Cattle Initiative will be supported with the use of the best technologies and equipment for improved efficiency. He added that the Government has put in place a sound Herd Health Management Plan for disease surveillance and management.
The cattle which the Government owns consists of the following breeds; 106 White Brahman bulls; 21 White Brahman heifers; 4 Red Brahman bulls; 2 Black Angus and 2 Red Angus bulls; 5 Charolais bulls; 5 Brangus bulls; 10 Beef master bulls; and 7 Santa Gertrudis bulls.
For his part, Clayy Foster Hudgins congratulated the Government of Botswana for the initiative, adding that the leadership has a great vision for Botswana. He said the initiative is familiar as Botswana Government bought 35 heifers and nine bulls from Texas, USA, in 1964.
As per the sources, “𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝗰𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮.”
