Cattle Identification and Traceability in Botswana

This article provides information on cattle identification and traceability in Botswana. Four methods of cattle identification exist in Botswana and these are ear notching, hot iron branding, conventional ear tags (usually plastic ones) and rumen bolus which was introduced over 11 years ago. These identification methods are used simultaneously. Livestock Identification and Traceback System (LITS) that uses rumen bolus has experienced a number of challenges that led to the Government of Botswana resolving to replace it with electronic ear tags as of 1st January 2013. It appears that most of the challenges to LITS implementation are internal processes that should have been addressed in lieau of dumping the bolus system which offers some degree of greater security than electronic ear tags. It has been shown that bolus has high retention rate and is tamperproof compared to electronic ear tags which can be easily removed, lost or tampered with. Unlike bolus, electronic ear tags are likely to contribute to increased stock theft, a few cattle being identified, and a decline in cattle slaughter at both municipal and export abattoirs. As a result, beef exports are likely to decline. In order to have a large proportion of farmers to adopt the ear tag technology which has cost implications to farmers compared to bolus that were inserted at government expense, extensive consultations by the government extension service should be undertaken.