adminBulawayo stockfeeds suppliers said the demand for stockfeed had exceeded what they were able to supply.
“The demand for stockfeeds has increased with most customers coming from Matabeleland. The farmers complain that there are no pastures for their livestock, hence the need to resort to stockfeeds,” said Nkululeko Tshezi, an Agrifoods sales clerk.
Frontline Farmers’ owner Mr Sparrow Smith said the rainy season normally saw a reduced demand for stockfeeds, but this time around it was different.
“Traditionally, when we enter the rainy season livestock will be feeding on pastures. Lately there has been an increased demand for pen-feed, beef maintenance feed and beef survival feed.
“We have also noticed a trend of livestock farmers shifting to poultry farming because of its short term returns compared to livestock farming,” said Mr Smith.
Cattle Ownership Society head administrator Mrs Ruth Moyo said resorting to stockfeed would result in an increase of cattle prices.
“Our cattle are mainly for commercial purposes and at the moment we are feeding them with stockfeed because of the dry spell, basically this will lead to increased cattle prices,” she said.
Quoted in the Press recently, Matabeleland South provincial chief livestock specialist, Ms Simangaliphi Ngwabi said that the province as at 20 December had recorded a total of 9 272 cattle deaths due to the effects of drought.
Online Reporter