Archive for October 2024
La Niña predicted to weaken. What does it mean for us?
Zimbabwe’s Department of Meteorological Services (MSD) shares an annual national rainy season forecast in September following the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF). Both of these assess and forecast climate patterns for the upcoming 2024/2025 rainfall season. The Zimbabwean MSD’s forecast was shared here, on this platform, back in September, and below, a reminder…
Read MoreCash flows for cattle
This is the second in a series of articles which will share highlights from this year’s Zimbabwe Herd Book’s annual Beef School. Presented by Jaco Erasmus, technical adviser to the Zimbabwe Beef Producers Society (ZBPS), it features a look at a cash flow model for cattle production. * A more detailed spreadsheet of this model…
Read MoreMeaty issues at ZHB Beef school 2024
This year’s edition of the Zimbabwe Herd Book (ZHB) Annual Beef School was recently held in Bulawayo, the capital of cattle country. Catering for a full house of serious cattlemen and women, it had a packed programme. An impressive lineup of experts from within the southern African region addressed topics aimed at enhancing the practices…
Read MoreFrom neglect to necessity: How pasture production can revolutionise farming in Zimbabwe
By Selected Seeds At the recent Zimbabwe Herd Book Beef School held in Bulawayo, a fascinating exchange took place that shed light on the perceptions surrounding pasture production in Zimbabwe. As I engaged with farmers at the Selected Seeds booth, one comment stood out as a farmer voiced, “I believe pasture production is only for…
Read MoreThe meaty Mashura Beefmaster herd
Beefmaster cattle are a composite breed developed in America in the 1930s by Tom Lasater, they blend the bos Indicus Brahman (50%), bos Taurus Hereford (25%), and Shorthorn genetics (25%). This combination was developed to create a breed with enhanced fertility, hardiness, and adaptability, making Beefmasters well-suited for diverse environmental conditions and effective in crossbreeding…
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