Vusumuzi Dube
THE livestock exhibition stands were abuzz and alive with excitement from livestock enthusiasts and spectators alike.
The social media hype about Mr Morgen Sibanda’s bull also added to the traffic of visitors and exhibitors to the livestock section, with everyone eager to lay their eyes on the famous bull that was reported on a social media post to be valued at US$50 000.
The owner has previously refused an auction price of US$16 000. Needless to say, it’s a top shelf bull from top genetics lines and anyone will be justified to say for the moon in exchange for the bull!
However, the aim of this week edition is not to further shine the light on the trending bull but to celebrate efforts from the various stud breeders who brought their products to the exhibition stands and made our visit to the stands an exciting moment.
Any livestock enthusiast will tell you that there were some excellent animals on display. Not to racialise stud breeding and previous traditional livestock exhibitions, but these have always tended to be dominated by white commercial farmers and a few black farmers. It was expected and normal for the livestock section to be dominated by white commercial breeders because they occupied the bigger portion of the commercial farming land.
The change in land ownership partners since our land reform program and the general shift in paradigms have since seen an increase in participation of black farmers in pedigree production and even commercial stock production. Consequently, this year’s edition of the livestock exhibition at the just ended Zimbabwe international trade fair has seen the number of stud breeders show casing their animals, increasing from four last year to eleven this year.
The number is still way smaller than the capacity of the exhibition pens which can hold more than five hundred animals but it is a very significant upward movement in the trajectory which needs to be applauded. Above all, it is the quality which needs to be appreciated, as the farmers put on display excellent top-quality animals which can compete at any level.
My singular round of applause will go to Hlango Brahman, Malundi Brahman, Kanyi Brahman and Biano Simmental just to mention but a few that I still remember from the top of my head! Thank you, farmers, including those who I have not mentioned by names for the splendid product you brought to the exhibition, let’s make next year edition even bigger and exciting.
Of course, the standing ovation will naturally go to Little Beatrice Farm, owners of the famous trending bull, for setting the bar high and winning the champion bull category.
Having said that, it is important for livestock farmers to realise and grab the opportunities presented by the changing paradigms in land ownership and production. The immediate and perhaps self-evident gab is that of narrow spectrum of breeds show cased at the stands. It is almost the Brahman only and this is a clear sign that some breeds are in short supply in the country. Previously one would find a range of breeds such as Angus, Hereford, Charolaise, Beefmasters and so on.
This presented a buffet of choice for visitors and signalled a breed plural production sector. It is this space that I challenge other farmers to occupy and promote their breed at this premier trade show. I know we have Boran, Bonsmara, Simbra breed producers and these as well as many others, should come to the part and promote their breeds at the trade show so that in addition to provision of variety, the breeds can also grow in popularity within the country. The livestock sector can only grow if it is supported by the farmers themselves. Challenge! As Ndolwane super sounds would say. Uyabonga umntaka MaKhumalo.
Mhlupheki Dube is livestock specialist and farmer. He writes in his own capacity. Feedback [email protected]/cell 0772851275
Bongani Ndlovu