adminThe Herald, 24 October 1985
THE demand for white meat, pork and poultry, has begun to rise as consumers switch to alternative sources of protein following the introduction of beef rationing by the Cold Storage Commission.
“We are experiencing an increase in demand for fresh pork in particular, as well as for a range of our other products and are doing our best to meet these requirements from our regular supplies,” a spokesman for Colcom, said this week.
“In the light of both the beef situation and generally improving demand, it has also been decided to increase producers’ pig delivery contracts.”
The spokesman said the benefits of this would not be felt until the middle of next year because it took time for the necessary breeding and growth of additional animals to the required weights.
The chairman of the Commercial Poultry Producers’ Association, Mr David Irvine, said he expected the consumption of poultry to increase following the shortage of beef.
But the poultry industry needed expansion, he said. The recent increase in poultry prices, though not sufficient, would restore a margin of profitability and allow some expansion.
Zimbabwe has always been a red meat country with pork and poultry producers battling against State-subsidised cheap beef.
The beef shortage should help the white meat producers reverse the situation in their favour
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Despite challenges in the livestock industry, Zimbabwe’s beef is considered one of the best on the world market.
Prolonged droughts, foot and mouth and the January disease have affected the growth of the cattle herd, and this has had an adverse effect on the industry, especially the export market.
Mismanagement of the livestock farms has also resulted in degeneration of the industry.
Since assuming office in 2017, President Mnangagwa’s desire has been to ensure that the cattle herd is revived. This resulted in capital injection from a number of bilateral partners into the Cold Storage Commission.
The livestock industry has also seen “innovative breeding technologies, including artificial insemination”, being successfully used on new breeds of beef bulls and heifers.
The resurgence of the livestock industry has seen thousands of small-scale farmers entering the beef industry market’s value chain, and adding to the new products: “ox tongue, stewed steak, corned beef, hair tails (for brushes) and tallow (for soap)”.
Despite the promising growth of the beef industry, poultry, pork and fish are also growing with most householders making a living from poultry products.
There will actually be more white meat on the market. Recently, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement was renamed Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement.
There are serious arguments about the nutrient values between red and white meat. They both have protein elements, but is red meat bad for one’s health? Does it cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes as is believed by some schools of thought?
There are recommended intakes of each protein. However, one of the most important nutrients that beef has is its high Vitamin B12 content.
Online Reporter