Mt Darwin District
The poorest households do not own any cattle but 1 to 3 goats and chickens while the middle class own 1 to 5 herds of cattle. Due to the differnt farming sectors and agro ecologyical zones in the district, the better off in the communal areas own up to ten herds of cattle, goats and chickens while those in the different resettlement areas may own up to 20 cattle and many.
Cattle are mainly affected by Athrax, Black leg and Limp skin disease. This calls for vacination programmes to be strictly adhered to as to avoid loses due to these disease.
Goats and Sheep are affected mainy by Pup kidney. This disease mainly affects the livestock during the spring and summer season when annimals are in thier good conditions.
Pigs are affected by Swine fever and this is transmitted from other districts and nearby contries. The district suffered a major loss in the year 2015-16 farming season. There is need for vaccinations to avoid losses.
Poultry as a small livestock are mainly affected by Newcastle and coccidiosis especially the exotic breeds.The prevalence of Newcastle affecting indegionous chickens was high in 2014
Inadequate water for livestock
Uncontolled veld fires
Tick borne disease
High cost of supplementary feeds
Shortage of maize for stock feeds
The district has 2 abattoirs, one is located in Chesa small scale commecial farms serving all the five wards of Chesa as well as Rushinga district which is the neighboring district in the eastern side of the district. The second one is located in Mt Darwin urban which is ward 26. This covers all the remaining wards of the district
Sales pens are avalable in a number of wards but most of them are dysfuntional and needs refurbishment on almost every part such as fencing, loading ramps, roofs trusses, crash pens, gates and poles. As a result of the low frequency of formal markets, informal markets are growing bigger and mainly in drought year when farmers sale thier livestock to purchase food.
