admin
THE name of Zimbabwean farmer, Collins Tafireyi, has been trending after he splashed a record US$444 000 to buy a Boran Bull at the weekend.
His name is trending because it’s a record amount that has splashed for such a bull in South Africa.
Tafireyi, 44, said he is a man on a mission to transform the cattle and beef industry in this country.
He said he expects the investment to bring in a profit after about three years.
The former sports reporter, who has transformed himself into a businessman and farmer, says his vision is to make the Zimbabwean-bred Boran the best in the world.
He also says his mission is to play a big part in rebuilding the country’s national herd.
“What I am doing is going to transform the whole cattle and beef industry in our country, and in a few years to come, Zimbabwe will be a hub of top genetics, not only the Boran but also Ankole cattle,” he said.
“We have our Ankole cattle herd still outside the country and plans are underway to bring it home to Zimbabwe.”
These are the kind of farmers that we want in this country.
We want farmers who are innovative and who are embracing the changes that are happening in their industry.
We want farmers who are ready to sacrifice today so that tomorrow they will reap huge rewards.
We want farmers who know the value of patience and who know that there is need for an investment before one expects a windfall from this industry.
Tafireyi is demonstrating all that and his huge investment into that prized bull is evidence of that.
He doesn’t expect a quick return on investment and even estimates that will start to happen in about three years’ time.
He is not thinking about the short term but about the long term and wants us to be the best country when it comes to breeding these special Boran bulls.
He revealed that last year his team broke a record in the breed, and bought 12 semen straws of breed legend Picasso GF 10-23, who happened to be the father of the newly-acquired prized bull Cyclone for R88 000 per straw.
They went on to do a highly successful embryo project and they are now expecting the birth of more than 100 calves of highly valuable genetics beginning in late this year.
He said the plan is to breed high-quality animals in huge numbers for sale to Zimbabwean breeders and other farmers across the world.
He thanked the Government for laying the foundation for farmers like him to pursue their dreams.
He maintained that great farming knows no colour of skin, and black farmers can also do well and match their white counterparts.
There is no doubt about it that Tafireyi is a man on a mission and he is on the right track and he needs all the support he can get.
Online Reporter