FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED CATTLE KEEPING IN BOTSWANA

 Climate: Most of Botswana receives very little rainfall of between 200mm and 600mm which is not suitable for arable farming. However, this little rainfall allows the growing of pastures and grazing can be done extensively especially as the country is sparsely populated with modern methods. Cattle keeping has successfully fit in this climate.

Relief: Most of Botswana is mountainously flat which is an advantage to cattle keeping industries. As a result, there is easy movement of cattle in search for water and pastures. Also the cattle keepers easily transport their cattle to the industries.

Availability of pasture and water: Botswana has grassland region ideal for cattle keeping. The cattle grazing is done on natural pastures on extensive scale. An added advantage is the presence of some water courses particularly seasonal rivers in the eastern part which are source of water.

There is extensive land available for the keeping of animals. This is because Botswana is sparsely populated. The country has population of about one million in the area of 712,000km2 on average. This has made extensive grazing possible.

In Botswana, there are low instances of pests and diseases. Botswana being a semi arid area, there are limited bushes that would attract pests and diseases. It is only a small part of Northern Botswana around Chobe game reserve which is infested with tsetse flies. Thus grazing can be done freely in other parts of Botswana.

Cattle breeds kept are local type which are more adopted to the environment particularly the harsh climate. For example the zebu and Afrikaner. New breeds have been introduced and across breeding is encouraged.

Due to limited economic activities people have resorted to cattle keeping. Crop growing is limited to to the unreliability of rainfall. The country is not blessed with minerals nor fishing potential though tourism
is relatively important. Thus forcing the people to resort to cattle keeping.

The transport facilities which were constructed in major cattle keeping areas have assisted in the development of the industries for example transport facilities help in the evacuation of cattle and its products to and from the industries and abattoirs.

Both local and foreign markets were available. Beef is the main source of protein to the people and some of it is exported to Britain, south Africa, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and many others.

Capital to use in the development of live stock industries was available provided by the European union which time money got from the beef export was used to sustain the industry.

Government policy: the government policy of more diversification of the industry assisted in its development as its first step that is the government established demonstration ranches to demonstrate to the farmers modern application to livestock keeping and its products management. The government
also established mobile animal husbandry units which travel regularly across the city.

Modern methods of animal husbandry are being used. The farmers have learnt modern techniques from demonstration farms and extensive officers. Currently farmers use spays, paddocks, do deworming, use supplementary feeds to improve on the cattle quality. The stock is also reduced by selling away mature oxen and other infertile animals.

The establishment of processing industries also acted as stimulant. In the industries, there is packaging and freezing of meat for local consumption and export.

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