June 8, 2005

Farmers in Botswana encouraged to improve animal handling conditions

A lecturer from the Botswana College of Agriculture, Molebeledi Mareko has advised farmers to rest and feed their animals during both transportation and lairage in order to improve carcass and meat quality.

He warned that prolonged feed withdrawal and long transportation hours can cause loss of weight, carcass shrinkage and decrease meat quality. Stress in animals caused by such transportation also lead to dark, firm and dry, pale, soft and exudative meat.

He said that Botswana may be exporting beef to the EU, which encourages the consumption of good quality meat.