Agrimark is very passionate about helping farmers – big and small – to run healthy operations.
After learning that several animals on a nearby farm contracted a serious and contagious disease, Agrimark Darling donated animal health products worth almost R6,000. The products were used to treat 138 sheep and 104 goats that were suffering from a condition called sheep scab.
Marius Vrey, Animal Health Technician from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, approached Agrimark Darling for help after he identified the prevalence of the disease on a farm in the area. According to veterinary journals, sheep scab is a contagious disease caused by mites. Infected sheep develop lesions on the skin which cause damage to their wool and hide. If left untreated they can suffer extreme weight loss and secondary bacterial infections. Sheep scab also affects goats and the disease can cause severe pain and discomfort.
“When we heard about the problem that some of the farmers in our community were experiencing, we immediately stepped in and agreed to donate the treatment,” explained branch manager Aldrin Soudien. Agrimark Darling stocks Pro-Dip Cyp which is a dip treatment that can be used against sheep scab. “The farm animals received three dips in total, and fortunately it was effective in curing them and in preventing transmission to neighbouring farms,” confirmed Aldrin.
One of the farmers whose animals were treated, said the donation was lifesaving. “This was the first time our animals contracted this type of disease. When we saw the sheep’s hair falling out, we weren’t sure what to do. We are so grateful to Agrimark for donating the dip. Our animals are healthy and doing much better now,” said Samuel Kumalo, who has been farming with sheep for the past 15 years.
For Don Vaphi, who has been farming in the region for 10 years, the donation brought emotional relief. “We love our animals and we don’t like to see them suffer. We don’t know what would have happened if we didn’t receive the medicine. Thanks to Agrimark and Marius’s intervention, our animals are alive and well.”
Agrimark Darling branch manager, Aldrin Soudien (far right), hands over the dip treatment to Animal Health Technician, Marius Vrey, who administered the treatment with one of the farmers, Catherine Kumalo looking on.