Odile Umuhire and Bonaventure Ndikumana, both veterinarians, emphasize their role in encouraging the public to take good care of animals.
Umuhire says, “We teach people that livestock should be protected from hunger and thirst, and they should also be shielded from stress, ensuring their general well-being.”
They point out that there are those who mistreat animals, unaware of the proper way to handle them. However, there is a law that punishes those who mistreat animals. In fact, improper treatment of livestock causes stress, which in turn leads to poor-quality meat.
Umuhire continues to explain that while livestock cannot speak, they still have the right to timely access to food and water.
“We train farmers to provide water in animal pens so that livestock can drink whenever they are thirsty, as they cannot communicate their needs to their owners,” they say.
He says, “We need to collectively consider how we can all take steps to ensure that livestock and humans do not interfere with each other, both on the African continent and globally. Starting with our own country, when we take good care of our livestock, they thrive in a free and healthy environment.”
He further explains, “When livestock are protected from diseases, it benefits their owners, leading to increased productivity and higher yields from animal products, which in turn boosts the country’s economy.”
Dr. Kamana also highlights that taking care of livestock’s well-being means safeguarding their productivity and ensuring increased yields from animal products in general.
He adds, “As the human population grows, we must strengthen our efforts to provide adequate food sources, whether from agriculture or livestock.”
“We are talking about livestock products, and we must use all possible means to increase their production,” he says.“We must raise more livestock, but raising them in large numbers does not mean denying them their basic rights.”
He explains, “Their basic rights include having enough space to breathe, sufficient movement areas, access to food, and receiving medical care.”These comments come at a time when reports from various parts of the country show that livestock traders mistreat animals when transporting them to markets or slaughterhouses.
This mistreatment can be seen in vehicles transporting cattle, where the animals are tied by their horns or noses. Some goats are tied onto bicycles or motorcycles, and chickens are carried upside down on bicycles, violating the animals’ rights.
