adminEdgar Vhera
Agriculture Specialist Writer
Mass cattle trading has witnessed a 32 percent surge in sales value with prices rising from an average of US$1,40 per kilogramme across all grades in April when farmers were cutting back to cope with drought to US$1,84 by October as the industry recovered.
Livestock and Meat Advisory Council executive administrator Dr Reneth Mano said on Tuesday the price movements were brought about after farmers went through a major sales surge at the end of the rain season to cope with the El Nino-induced drought.
“Cattle auctioneers, CC Sales’ auction prices for cattle have firmed in October this year from the nadir reached earlier in April, when farmers were offloading cattle onto the auction market out of fear of pronounced risk of drought-induced feed insecurity and starvation.
“From October to end of November, demand for cattle for slaughter is expected to continue firming because butcheries are looking for fast-moving grades of slaughter cattle in preparation for the expected peak demand during December holiday season,” Dr Mano said.
He said the biggest price increase was for the manufacturing grade at 80 percent and economy grade with 50 percent of slaughter stock rather than the super and choice grade cattle for the high-end market, which had been subdued for some time.
Statistics also show that there was a 40 percent increase in the auction price of breeding females, which demonstrates that some farmers are beginning to restock their herds having perhaps strategically destocked in April and May to reduce risk of starvation losses on their small farms.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the local think tank group, Zimbabwe Agricultural Think Tank, concurred saying that they expected prices to continue firming till December though higher prices were possible if farmers adopted cross breeding.
This comes as one stud breeder recently urged commercial cattle producers to do cross-breeding with superior bulls to get high prices, quality and net carcass weight to improve their incomes and make farming a serious business.
Figures released from CC Sales’ recent Mt Hampden auction show that the weaner heifer had the largest average price of US$2,30 per kilogramme, followed by choice at US$2,05 and live weight heifer on US$2,01.
Online Reporter