Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane and rural development and agrarian reform MEC Nonkqubela Pieters will on Tuesday kick-start the use of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) as part of efforts to fight stock theft.
LITS is a technology-based ear-tag gadget that the government is delivering to 120 cattle-farming enterprises across the province.
The technology is also part of efforts to strengthen biosecurity measures to improve the international trade of cattle.
As part of this rollout, 30 000 cattle will be ear-tagged for identification and traceability purposes in Tsolo.
Animal identification
Mabuyane pledged to implement LITS as part of the implementation of a deal between the government and the red meat industry during the 2024 State of the Province Address.
LITS will ensure individual animal identification so that livestock owners comply with the Animal Identification Act.
This will improve the prosecution rate of people charged with livestock theft and strengthen biosecurity measures on farms to improve international trade in cattle.
All ear-tagged animals and the identities of their owners are registered in a central database, where animal movement is recorded to make it easy to trace the animal back to the owner.
Once the system is fully implemented, each animal slaughtered in any abattoir can be traced to where it was farmed, the farming conditions where the animal was farmed, and all animal health practices the animal was exposed to.
This will also make it possible to identify the owners of registered animals, thus improving the recovery of stolen animals.
The department is implementing this national policy in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council.
Stock owners must work with police
Currently, the department has trained and registered more than 250 veterinarians, scientists, animal health technicians, and extension advisors to lead the implementation of the system.
In January, the OR Tambo district police commissioner, Major-General Phumzile Cetyana, stated that stock theft poses a huge challenge in the district as the area is vastly rural and cattle are left roaming unattended.
“We appeal to stock owners to work with the police so that together we can overcome these challenges,” said Cetyana.
“The commitment and resilience displayed by members of the stock theft units deserve commendation.
“We are warning people that opening false cases is a serious offence, as these impacts on police resources that could have been used in other policing matters. “There are dire consequences for those who open false cases.” – SAnews.gov.za
