HARARE - Zimbabwe has developed an animal antibiotic that is set to "revolutionise" the agricultural sector, Harare's Herald newspaper reported yesterday.

HARARE - Zimbabwe has developed an animal antibiotic that is set to "revolutionise" the agricultural sector, Harare's Herald newspaper reported yesterday.

Its website said the new drug would bolster the control of internal and external parasites in livestock.

Robson Mafoti, chief executive of the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), said the antibiotic, Sirdamectin, was one of the most effective animal drugs ever produced.

"Our animal antibiotic will revolutionise the agricultural sector," he said.

"The SIRDC continues with its research agenda in order to come up with other products, some of which we will soon be commercialising."

Mafoti said with the introduction of the locally-made drug, Zimbabwe would be able to fight diseases at a lower cost.

Large numbers of cattle die from tick-borne diseases in Zimbabwe every year, especially during the rainy season. - Sapa