Livestock farmers losing dozens of cattle; feel abandoned by government

Livestock farmers have slammed the Ministry and the Department of Agriculture, headed by Hon Eugene Hamilton, over the state of the federation's livestock industry which is being crippled by disease.

Scores of farmers have suffered losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"We the livestock farmers are suffering," said Mr Politics, who told Minister of Infrastructure Hon Ian Patches Liburd that he had to burn another cattle due to massive tick.

He said there is no bayticol on the island to treat the livestock, which are dying by the hundreds.

He said the veterinarians have been visiting and the outbreak has resulted in loss in income and expenditure.

"Every minute I have to be spending, spending, spending and it appears that I have to give up my livestock farming, which I have been ding as a young boy with my parents," said Dorset, who asked Liburd to tell minister Hamilton the failings of his ministry.

"I rear sheep, goats and pigs and now cattle. We had the same problem in the 1980's and dips were built to treat the animals to get their skin clean up," he said.

Dorset said livestock farmers around the island have been complaining "and they cannot get the treatment to give the animals."

He said it appears that not enough are ordered. "It have livestock farmers with 25, 50, 60 and over 100 head of cattle. Even persons who have horses are suffering."

Dorset said it appears that the livestock farmers have been abandoned.