Zimbabwe's cattle herd rises to 5,7 million

Published: 2 hours ago

Zimbabwe's national cattle herd has grown to 5,7 million, marking a 2% increase from the previous year, despite the twin challenges of drought and livestock diseases. The update was presented in Parliament last week by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development minister Anxious Masuka, who said the country is on track towards its target of reaching a 12 million herd by 2034.

Masuka highlighted that intensified disease control programmes and improved access to vaccines are helping to safeguard livestock, particularly in high-risk areas vulnerable to tick-borne illnesses. "Contrary to popular belief, our national herd is actually growing. We have ensured that vaccines are available, especially in high-risk areas, to protect cattle and secure livestock production," he told legislators.

The growth comes in the wake of an El Nino-induced drought that killed 9 941 cattle at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, with 47% of rural wards facing grazing shortages from July this year. Zimbabwe has also endured significant cattle losses over the years from the deadly January disease, while climate-related challenges continue to undermine livestock feed availability in both wet and dry seasons.

The livestock sector remains constrained by prolonged dry spells, high feed costs, erratic dipping schedules, transboundary pests and diseases, high mortality rates and limited access to markets. According to the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund, 65% of the population depends on crop farming and 40% on livestock production for their livelihoods.

The government's 2020-25 livestock growth plan prioritises disease control as a critical intervention for unlocking the sector's full potential under the National Development Strategy. Last month, the ministry launched a digital livestock tracking system, a step officials say will modernise the industry and support its transformation into a US$2 billion sector.
- Newsday

Tags: Cattle,