Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
GOVERNMENT and private-sector players are stepping up efforts to promote the Mashona cattle breed as Zimbabwe prepares for another potentially devastating El Niño-induced drought, with farmers being encouraged to shift towards livestock better adapted to local climatic conditions.
The call was made recently at a Mashona Cattle Field Day at Portlet Estates in Makonde District, Mashonaland West Province , where breeders, Government officials, livestock specialists and smallholder farmers gathered to explore ways of building a climate-resilient national herd.
Director of Livestock and Fisheries Production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Development Dr Milton Makumbe said indigenous breeds should form the foundation of Zimbabwe’s livestock production, particularly among smallholder farmers.
“Our position is that indigenous livestock must form the base breeds for livestock production in the smallholder sector. Mashona cattle have evolved under Zimbabwe’s harsh production conditions and possess qualities including drought tolerance, resistance to local parasites, heat tolerance and the ability to maintain productivity under low-input systems.
“Our objective must not exclude crossbreeding; however, indigenous breeds must remain the cornerstone of our breeding strategy, ensuring they continue to anchor and guide all genetic improvement efforts.
“We must improve productivity while retaining the hardy characteristics that make our indigenous breeds suitable for local environments. Our goal is to combine genetic improvement with environmental adaptation and climate resilience,” he said.
Over more than five decades, Zimbabwe has conducted rigorous trials at Matopos Research Institute, where scientists demonstrated the Mashona’s potential as a highly productive beef breed under local conditions.
Dr Makumbe said Government was developing the Zimbabwe IndiGene Programme, which seeks to place indigenous genetics at the centre of national livestock development.
The programme will include strengthening the national gene bank at Matopos Research Institute, promoting artificial insemination and identifying superior indigenous bulls from both commercial and communal herds for semen collection.
Dr Makumbe said Government was also working with the private sector to make improved indigenous genetics accessible to smallholder farmers.
“Improving our national herd is a shared responsibility,” he said, urging farmers to preserve indigenous genetics while using controlled crossbreeding to improve productivity.
At Portlet Estates, veteran livestock farmer and breeder Mr John Crawford said his return to Mashona cattle followed decades of experience with different breeds.
“I think my father actually started with Mashona and 50 years later I’m back to Mashona again. Maybe we have found our senses,” he said.
Mr Crawford, who keeps about 600 cattle, said he was maintaining a pure Mashona herd to produce breeding stock, including bulls and semen, for distribution to farmers across the country.
“I do believe that the indigenous breed is the best thing for our local climate, particularly with the predicted drought that is coming up ahead of us,” he said.
Mr Crawford said Mashona cattle required less nutrition than imported British and European breeds and had performed well when crossed with Angus, Brahman, Simmental and dairy breeds.
Livestock specialist and Mashona Cattle Society inspector Mr Godfrey Mupfugami urged farmers to embrace the breed, saying its ability to adapt to local environments made it particularly relevant as climate change intensified.
Farmers Mr Walter Chidharara and Mr David Manasa Makasi said many producers had previously favoured exotic breeds because of their larger body sizes and higher milk production, but were now feeling the pressure of inadequate grazing and fodder caused by poor rainfall.
“We adopted exotic breeds for mass and milk production, but with fodder becoming scarce, we are now feeling the burden. We need cattle that can survive on what is available locally,” they said.
Meanwhile, Steel Warehouse sales associate Mr Othiniel Nyoni urged farmers to secure their farms and improve livestock management to prevent cattle from straying onto roads, where they can cause fatal accidents.
