Government targets increasing the country’s cattle population from about 5,7 million to at least six million by 2030.
Speaking at a livestock genetics workshop at the Grasslands Research Institute in Marondera yesterday, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the country already possessed valuable genetic resources that could be leveraged to build a stronger national herd.
“What we are showcasing here is the breeds that are appropriate for Zimbabwe and our message is that we do still have good genetics of our herd, popularly known as the Hard Mashona, and we must ensure that our herd is improved in the rural areas,” he said.
He identified the Mashona, Tuli, Boran and Nguni breeds as among those capable of adapting to Zimbabwean conditions and said they should be mainstreamed into rural livestock production.
“We do have the Boran, Tuli and Nguni breeds which are adaptable as well in Zimbabwe and we must ensure that we mainstream these to our livestock in the rural areas,” Prof Jiri said.
He said the country was steadily moving towards its six-million-cattle target and could surpass it if farmers combined improved genetics with better-quality animals.
“If we can surpass that, combined with good frame and quality, that will be good. We are moving steadily towards our six million mark,” he said.
Prof Jiri said climate change made the adoption of resilient breeds increasingly important.
“Remember also that we are moving into greater challenges in terms of climate change, so we must look for varieties and breeds that are resilient to our situation,” he said.
The programme is expected to ensure rural farmers benefit directly from improved genetics, ultimately increasing herd productivity, disease tolerance, reproduction and household incomes.
