Online Reporter
Edgar Vhera
Specialist Writer – Agribusiness
ZIMBABWE’S domestic per capita consumption of all animal protein products shot up 55 percent to 34.1 kilogrammes per person per year in 2024, up from 21.98kg in 2017 — the highest level since 2000.
This was revealed by Livestock and Meat Advisory Council (LMAC) executive administrator, Dr Reneth Mano, at the recent Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) livestock conference in Harare.
The conference ran under the theme: “Building Resilient Livestock Systems towards a US$15,8 billion Agriculture Economy by 2030: Addressing the Production and Marketing Challenges.”
Presenting on livestock production and market performance challenges, opportunities, and growth prospects for the period 2026 to 2035, Dr Mano said the increase in meat consumption under the Second Republic was chiefly driven by chicken.
The meat products include dairy, beef, sheep, goat, chicken, table eggs, and pork.
Statistics from LMAC show that in 1980, the average all-animal protein consumption was 43.39kg and increased to a peak of 45.71kg in 1987.
It dropped to the lowest level of 15.9kg in 2008 and has been increasing since then.
“Dairy, sheep, goats, chicken, and table egg consumption have been increasing since 2017, while beef remained the same.
From 1980 to 2008, dairy was the largest source of animal protein, with beef taking over between 2009 and 2010,” he said.
Since 2011 to date, chicken remains the largest source of animal protein.
Dr Mano said that although all animal production trends have been increasing since 2009, productivity across all enterprises remains well below optimal levels.
“Our farmers are failing to achieve the productivity targets expected from their animals, primarily as a result of high purchased feed costs.
To achieve these performance benchmarks, the smallholder feeding strategy must transition from reliance on pre-bagged retail feeds to an optimised feed ration combining home-grown forages and bulk-milled concentrates,” he said.
Dr Mano added that on-farm feed formulation requires additives purchased either locally or imported.
“Zimbabwe imported 22 000 tonnes of additives for ruminant feeds, and almost 91 percent of those were used by the stockfeed industry, meaning that there was not enough left for on-farm feed formulation.
How can we address that feed deficit on the homestead in order to achieve maximum productivity and sustain growth?” he asked.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said challenges included the high cost of feed for piggery, poultry, and dairy.
“To assist business, Government introduced ease-of-doing-business reforms across all sectors, including agriculture.
Livestock markets in rural areas remain disjointed, and Government is establishing ward drought mitigation centres for livestock auctions,” he said.
Dr Masuka said the Second Republic had made commendable strides in livestock growth from 2020 to 2025, with beef cattle increasing from 5,4 to 5,7 million, a 5,5 percent growth.
The goat herd increased by 31 percent from 3,9 to 5,1 million, while sheep surged 35 percent from 523 000 to 796 000.
Pigs rose from 228 000 to 428 000, a 120 percent growth, with poultry recording the largest surge of 164 percent – from 72 to 190 million.
Milk production has increased 128 percent, from 67 million litres in 2017 to 153 million litres in 2025.
