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Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Farming Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) in conjunction with the Department of Livestock Production and Development will next month send a contingent of 40 farmers from Matabeleland region comprising women and youths to train in goat dairy breeding.
ZCFU Matabeleland North provincial chairman, Mr Winston Babbage said the group of farmers was expected to undergo a two-week training course in the rearing of Saanen dairy goats in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
“We will send a group of farmers made up of Women in Farming and youths to go and train in Saanen dairy breeding in Limpopo Province. We have since tasked our provincial office to liaise with their Limpopo counterparts to facilitate the training programme and preparations are at an advanced stage,” Mr Babbage said.
Saanens are the largest of the goat dairy breeds, and one of the largest milk producers. Does typically weigh at least 61 kilogrammes and stand 76 centimetres tall, with bucks weighing at least 73kg and standing 81 cm.
The profile of the head is straight or dished (concave), with erect, forward-pointing mid-sized to large ears. Saanen does are known for their ease of management in herds, mellow temperaments and adaptability, as well as their production abilities. Their milk generally has a butterfat content of three to four percent.
“In South Africa Saanens dairy production has been in practice for sometime while goat dairy in the country is not largely practised thus the farmers that will go for training in Limpopo will be imparted with the requisite knowledge to breed dairy goats.
“We are also looking forward to importing these high-yielding breeds as the indigenous ones have relatively low milk yields. The breeding of these dairy goats will go a long way towards improving the farmers’ livelihoods as well as nutritional levels in communities,” Mr Babbage said.
Young Farmers Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Ayanda Ndlovu confirmed the development saying farmers were likely to accrue more benefits from rearing the dairy goats through adding value to the milk.
“I am aware that some farmers will go to South Africa on a training programme on the upkeep of dairy goats because it is more pronounced there than it is here. There are even yoghurts and cheese made from the milk,” Mr Ndlovu said.
Online Reporter