Government steps up drive to rebuild national cattle herd

Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Senior Reporter
THE Government is stepping up efforts to rebuild Zimbabwe’s national cattle herd, particularly in communal areas, as it moves to strengthen livestock production, improve rural incomes and unlock the sector’s wider economic potential.

About 90 percent of the country’s 5,7 million cattle are in rural areas, making the recovery and growth of the communal herd critical to the success of the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy and the attainment of Vision 2030.

Responding to questions in Parliament on measures being taken to increase the national herd, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said Government was focusing on genetics, disease control and pastures to rebuild the national herd.

“About 90 percent of our livestock population of 5.7 million is in rural areas. It is a sector that Government looks to protect in order to grow the livestock herd, not only as a social status symbol but also for the potential economic transformation that the livestock enterprise, if commercialised, properly presents for upliftment of communities towards Vision 2030,” he said.

“It is in this context that the three major areas of attention by Government in terms of the agriculture food systems and rural transformation strategy have been genetics, disease and pastures.”

Dr Masuka said Government was addressing genetic challenges in communal herds, including inbreeding and an inadequate bull-to-cow ratio.

“We are aware that there is major inbreeding within the communal sector. The bull-to-cow ratio is not optimal and therefore, we are also introducing artificial insemination by introducing elite indigenous breeds for the communal area,” he said.

A growing national herd is key to strengthening Zimbabwe’s livestock value chain, providing rural households with an important source of wealth, income and food security while supporting downstream industries such as meat processing and leather production.

Rebuilding the herd will also help restore productive capacity lost to disease outbreaks and other shocks while creating a stronger foundation for the commercialisation of communal livestock, with increased productivity expected to boost marketable volumes and rural incomes.

Disease control remains another key pillar of the recovery programme after Zimbabwe lost about 500 000 cattle between 2017 and 2021.

“We are also attending to diseases and in particular, we lost about 500 000 cattle between 2017 and 2021. Hence, the introduction of the Presidential Tick Grease Programme which has led to a very substantial reduction in tick-borne diseases,” Dr Masuka said.

Government is also strengthening livestock feed security through hay production to cushion farmers during periods of pasture shortages.

“We are also introducing hay baling. Recently, the Government distributed 40 tractors with mowers and balers to the provinces to start the baling programme so that in the lean period, we can ensure that our livestock are provided with a supplementary feed programme,” he said.

The interventions are beginning to produce results, with the national herd recording modest growth.

“These are the interventions that have now started to bear fruit. We are beginning to see an increase in the livestock population. Last year ZimStat estimated that the 5.7 million cattle that we have seen a modest growth of 2 percent from 2024. I expect that this growth trajectory will be maintained.”

However, Dr Masuka said sustained growth of the herd also depended on livestock owners taking greater responsibility for animal health and commercialisation.

“However, livestock as an enterprise principally places the responsibility to grow on the communal people who should present their livestock for dipping, ensure that the livestock are treated as a commercial enterprise and in partnership with Government, we can continue on this sustainable growth trajectory,” he said.

The livestock recovery drive is also being supported by increased financing for critical infrastructure, with Government recently rolling out a US$25 million Livestock Health and Infrastructure Facility.

The facility is aimed at expanding livestock production, improving animal health management and accelerating the development of a resilient and commercially competitive livestock industry.

Being implemented under the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the facility will finance critical infrastructure including animal sheds, pens, feedlots, kraals, spray races and dip tanks, as well as related machinery and equipment.

The facility is being implemented under the Mechanisation Development Alliance Programme and Framework in partnership with the private sector.

Beneficiaries are required to pay a US$15 commitment fee, with the balance repayable over five years, allowing farmers to service the financing from returns generated by their livestock enterprises.

The combined interventions are expected to strengthen the livestock production base, improve animal health and position communal farmers to participate more meaningfully in formal livestock markets.