Evaluation of Livestock Identification and Trace-Back System (LITS) in Three Villages of Kweneng District, Botswana

Abstract

A study was conducted in Gamodubu, Lentsweletau and Kopong in Kweneng District to evaluate the performance of LITS and to ascertain whether it has enabled Botswana beef sector to meet traceability standards to secure EU market. Data were collected using a verbally guided questionnaire which was administered to 50 individual livestock keepers (Gamodubu - 10, Kopong – 15 and Lentsweletau - 25) and key informants (traditional leaders, police officers and extension agents). In addition, secondary sources of data were reviewed. Data on socio-economic characteristics (age, sex, educational level and marital status) of the respondents, factors affecting LITS implementation and role of extension services in LITS implementation were collected. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The current results showed that cattle breeds reared in the study area in order of preference are Brahman/Tswana cross (48%), Tswana (17%), Simmental/Brahman (14%) Simmental/Tswana cross (6%), Simmental (6%), Brahman (6%), Bonsmara (1.5%) and Afrikaner (1.5%). Seventy percent of the respondents were males, only 48% of the cattle population in the study area was inserted with bolus, extension service is inadequate and that LITS system is experiencing implementation challenges. These challenges are attributable mainly to frequent breakdown of equipment in the field resulting in backlogs in bolus insertions, Also, the present results showed that LITS did not contribute to the decline in stock theft cases. Based on the low number of cattle inserted with bolus (48%), these results suggest that LITS in the current form is not enabling Botswana to export beef to the EU market.