Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB) has launched a Small Stock School as an addition to Beef School, to support farmers into sheep, goats and other small ruminants’ production to level up their skills and connect them with fellow producers.
The ZHB established by an Act of Parliament in 1980, is the official organisation that oversees the registration of pedigree livestock – also known as stud animals – the seed stock of the Zimbabwean livestock industry and the basis of stud breeding.
In an interview on the sidelines of the annual Beef School 2025 in Bulawayo, ZHB Chair, Mrs Anne Cooke said the Small Stock School was key to equipping farmers with more knowledge on small stock production.
“We have finally launched the inaugural Small Stock School, it’s been talked about for a couple of years.
As ZHB we are a legislative body that oversees all of the farm pedigree animals in the country so that’s our small stock as well which includes goats and sheep,” she said.
“We have gaps in the country where education is not always there for farmers. We have a lot of people who want to get into farming and we do have some courses in the universities but we also have people who have got some animals on their farm who want to learn, that is where the Small Stock School is coming in.”
She said it will allow farmers to learn about new developments, how to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and new ways of treating diseases.
Mrs Cooke said it was critical for farmers to also be aware of how to deal with new diseases that are emerging in the country, what to look out for and how to treat them.
“The key is better care of livestock for farmers for better profits. The Small Stock School will focus on goat and sheep management, addressing the importance of these animals in Zimbabwe’s agricultural landscape. It aims to provide practical knowledge for farmers looking to diversify their livestock operations,” she added.
