NEW: “Technology is key for cattle breeding” 

Online Reporter 

TERTIARY institutions have been urged to establish bull stations and semen centres, as the country gears to embrace agro-technology to help cattle farmers improve the genetic make-up of animals for better breeds.

Director for the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Pious Makaya, said functional bull centres and semen processing laboratories are only found at Mazowe Veterinary Field Research Stations and at the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT).

“Technology-enhanced breeding of livestock guarantees breeds with less risk of spreading diseases increase conception rates, resulting in numbers increasing in a shorter period for both dairy and beef herd,” said Dr Makaya.

“This will see farmers having quality breeds that can fetch good prices on the market.”