Beef farmers have been advised to ensure a certain portion of their cattle sales were saved for future uncertainties.

Minister for Agriculture, Mahendra Reddy gave this timely encouragement during the handover of fencing kit to 16 beef cattle farmers in Labasa.

Mr Reddy said he understood that farmers would use or slaughter their cattle for their own consumption, but he advised them to adjust and allocate a certain saving to ensure the value of the livestock was retained.

“Farmers can open up a separate savings account and save a certain amount from each sale,” he said.

Backyard slaughtering

Mr Reddy said people without prior approval engaged in backyard slaughtering for commercial purposes would be taken to task if caught.

This was after requests were made by a beef farmer from Labasa to implement stringent measures and regulations on individuals engaged in illegal commercialization.

This was because some beef cattle farmers had noticed a decline in their weekly beef cattle slaughter intakes.

He said slaughtering should be done in a proper slaughter house or abattoir, upon which meat inspectors had to certify, only then it could be retailed.

Mr Reddy was told by his ministry team based in the Northern Division that ample public awareness had been conducted.

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