Cold snap kills cattle, leaving eMbalenhle small-scale farmers counting losses
The animals were taken out to graze as usual, but the temperature dropped sharply during the day.
A brutal cold snap has killed cattle in eMbalenhle, leaving smallholder farmers counting their losses after freezing temperatures, heavy rainfall and strong winds swept across the country last week.
Farmers said the extreme weather brought severe frost and some of the coldest conditions they had experienced, resulting in devastating livestock losses despite efforts to protect their animals.
One farmer, Sipho Xaba, said he lost a cow during the freezing spell. Xaba said his cattle had been healthy before temperatures suddenly dropped.
The animals were taken out to graze as usual, but the temperature dropped sharply during the day.
“When we returned, we found that one cow had fallen. We tried to build a shelter and light a fire to keep it warm, but it died during the night. You couldn’t even stand outside for two minutes because of the cold,” said Xaba.
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He said the loss was particularly painful because cattle are an important source of income for some families in the area.
“A cow like this could be sold for R11 000 to R15 000. That money helps us pay school fees for our children. This is a very big loss because we depend on cattle for our livelihood,” said Xaba.
Farmers said they had never experienced weather severe enough to cause livestock deaths on this scale.
They called on the government to educate smallholder farmers on how to protect livestock during extreme weather and assist them with constructing proper shelters.
Another farmer, Sipho Shabalala, said he woke up to find two of his cows dead outside his kraal. He said one of the cows was pregnant. Shabalala said the animals appeared to have died after being exposed to the cold and wet conditions.
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He said the losses had placed additional financial pressure on his farming operation. He also called for government intervention to help smallholder farmers recover from weather-related disasters.
Meanwhile, Mnikeni Mthombeni lost five cattle after finding them dead while preparing to take his herd to the grazing land.
Mthombeni said the animals had severely swollen bellies, leaving him convinced there was no chance of saving them.
“We are facing a massive loss, especially when you factor in the calves,” said Mthombeni.
He said he had never witnessed such severe cold wiping out livestock on such a scale. The affected farmers are now appealing for support, saying the losses threaten both their livelihoods and their families’ ability to meet basic expenses.
