Indigenous Nkone cattle win at the Zimbabwe Trade Fair

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The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which ran last week (from Monday 21 to Saturday 26 April) is held annually in Bulawayo in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. Bulawayo’s strategic location at the crossroads of Southern Africa’s regional trade and transportation routes makes it an ideal host city for the fair.

The ZITF is designed to promote trade, investment, and business networking at both local and international levels. Agriculture is not forgotten and many Zimbabwean agricultural inputs companies exhibit at the event. In recent years the ZITF event has gained traction with increased private sector involvement and international participation.

Cattle judging

Outside the conference halls, the ZITF also features livestock exhibitions, showcasing breeds. Animals that have been entered into the livestock exhibition undergo judging and this year, judging was undertaken by John Crawford, former Zimbabwe Herd Book chairman, third-generation Zimbabwean cattle breeder and dairy farmer.

There has been no cattle showing in the recent years, but cattle showing is back with a bang. This year, excitingly for the Nkone cattle breed, the three-year-and-three-month year old Umvutcha Nkone Stud bull “Prince Charming” (22-2201UMV) was crowned Supreme Champion Interbreed, winning the Thousand Guineas Trophy and fighting off stiff competition from other cattle breeds.

Previous winners of the Thousand Guineas trophy read like a “who’s who” of cattle production in Zimbabwe and the Nkone and the Maidwell’s name will now be recorded in history alongside the greats.

Umvutcha Nkone Stud also won the award for the Reserve Champion Interbreed Cow.

Numbers of registered Nkone cattle are very low, currently around the 540-mark and there are currently only a handful of registered breeders (two in Mashonaland, one in Midlands and one in Matebeleland). But, thanks to the dedication of producers such as the Maidwells of Umvutcha in Umguza, breed recognition and numbers are slowly rising.

The importance of indigenous and hardy yet fertile and productive cattle such as the Sanga (with its smaller-framed Mashona, Nkone and medium-framed Tuli breeds) in our country with its increasingly drought-prone years and erratic rains, cannot be overstated. The next event to whet the public appetite for these indigenous cattle breeds will be the ADMA Agrishow (5-7 June, ART Farm, Pomona) where there will be an indigenous breeds exhibition and sale.

Livestock conference

The ZITF also hosts an annual Livestock Conference, organised with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development. The 2025 conference theme was “Transforming Livestock Futures: Strategies for Resilience and Prosperity,” focusing on productivity, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.

The event is aimed at farmers, business owners, government officials, veterinarians, academics, financiers, and industry experts from across the region. The livestock sector is a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s agricultural economy, supporting about 70% of the rural population and Matabeleland is widely acknowledged as cattle country.

Conference topics included disease management and surveillance, especially for challenges like tick-borne diseases and drought impacts; sustainable livestock practices, climate resilience, and technological advancements; strategic marketing, policy frameworks, and market development for livestock products and financing, partnerships, and value chain development.

About the ZITF

The ZITF Exhibition Centre spans 17 hectares near Bulawayo’s central business district, featuring six exhibition halls and numerous pavilions.

The fair continues to draw hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors, with recent editions seeing participation from over 20 foreign countries and more than 600 exhibitors.

The ZITF has played a significant role in Zimbabwe’s economic development, providing a platform for local and international businesses to connect, showcase products, and explore new markets. It remains a symbol of Bulawayo’s historical and ongoing importance in regional trade and industry.

WINNERS OF THE THOUSAND GUINEA TROPHY

AWARDED TO THE SUPREME CHAMPION BULL OF ZIMBABWE 1914 to 1999

YearWinnerLocationBull NameBreed
1914C. S. JoblingBulawayoDovenby DreadnoughtHereford
1915C. Drummond-ForbesSandownLomondShorthorn
1916C. Drummond-ForbesSandownLomondShorthorn
1917C. Drummond-ForbesSandownLomondShorthorn
1918G. C. WoodfordeGatoomaRaithby BlenheimShorthorn
1919G. C. WoodfordeGatoomaRaithby BlenheimShorthorn
1920Drummond-Forbes & FreezeBulawayoCounty MagistrateShorthorn
1921C. S. JoblingDovenby DamoclesHereford
1922Capt. H. L. PhilipsBalfour, TransvaalVillage EditorAberdeen Angus
1923J. R. StewartShanganiBlack Band II of Castle-CraigAberdeen Angus
1924NO CATTLE SHOWN
1925NO CATTLE SHOWN
1926Dalton & TaylorGatoomaBridgebank CondorShorthorn
1927Dalton & TaylorGatoomaBridgebank CondorShorthorn
1928George MitchellBulawayoSpring Grange CraftsmanHereford
1929John MackGatoomaHampton Court Line ClearHereford
1930De Beers Cons Mines LtdKimberleyChepstowe ChallengerShorthorn
1931NO CATTLE SHOWN
1932C. Roberts & LettsMaldon Farm, HeanyTullyveage MarksmanShorthorn
1933J. R. StewartShanganiEmblazon of BleatonAberdeen Angus
1934Duncan BlackSalisburyBrislingAberdeen Angus
1935C. Roberts and LettsMaldon, HeanyMaldon KismetShorthorn
1936NO CATTLE SHOWN
1937A. L. MillarSalisburyEstes Park MarinerAberdeen Angus
1938Duncan BlackSalisburyEscudero of SelbyAberdeen Angus
1939J. G. & T. PhippsMooi River, NatalCalrossie JanitorShorthorn
1940-1945NO CATTLE SHOWN DURING WW2
1946I. ForbesBulawayoCraig Rennie Robin HoodHereford
1947A. L. MillarEstes Park EritreaAberdeen Angus
1948J. JarniesonBulawayoThibet Park Martyn's NasfeedFriesland
1949A. L. MillarPacemaker of FordhouseAberdeen Angus
1950A. L. MillarPacemaker of FordhouseAberdeen Angus
1951Black BrosSalisburyCluny CaesarShorthorn
1952Black BrosSalisburyCluny CaesarShorthorn
1953Conolly BrosFigtreeVern BorageHereford
1954E. MacArthurMillhillsJeffShorthorn
1955A. H. G. HampshireBeaufortBorder EarlShorthorn
1956Matopos Research StationBulawayoBrakfontein Bootsma IIFriesland
1957Matopos Research StationBulawayoBrakfontein Bootsma IIFriesland
1958Mr & Mrs P. H. NesbittFigtreeEustwin Peter Pan IIRed Poll
1959Mr & Mrs E. G. WevellMilsonia RanchKnockout of RosewaysHereford
1960Mr & Mrs P. H. NesbittFigtreeEustwin Peter Pan IIRed Poll
1961Kenilworth EstatesBulawayoDoornspruit VoetpadAfricaner
1962Heyns BrosHartleyDoornspruit WitpensAfricaner
1963Debshan RanchesShanganiKismet of RosewaysHereford
1964A. L. MillarSalisburyEvarist of FordhouseAberdeen Angus
1965A. L. MillarSalisburyEvarist of FordhouseAberdeen Angus
1966A. L. MillarSalisburyElfred of NethertonAberdeen Angus
1967Debshan RanchesShanganiIngezi SeamanHereford
1968B. E. LobelSalisburyLobenvale Bel 765Brahman
1969G. WillemseSalisburyKelvingrove Laddie 293Africaner
1970V. G. MilwardNortonVipya ZorroSussex
1971B. E. LobelSalisburyLobenvale Bel 9Brahman
1972B. E. LobelSalisburyLobenvale Bel 9Brahman
1973Mr & Mrs F. W. van BeeckNuanetsiWintersvlei James BondAfrikaner
1974Rhodesia Tobacco & RanchingBulawayoBalquhidder Glow-worm IISussex
1975NO INTERBREED CLASSES
1976Mr & Mrs G. F. WhaleySalisburyMasasa DrummerHereford
1977Eric York & SonsFigtreePoltimore JumboSussex
1978Henock RanchingBulawayoLazy 3 Baron 18Brahman
1979Eric York & SonsFigtreeCircle-Y LionSussex
1980B. L. Calderwood and C. P. D. GoodwinBedza du Lys FearlessAfrikaner
1981Heany Junction FarmKoce LlewellynHereford
1982Peter GrantBroadwell FarmRhoman Rogers Baron I 9-79Brahman
1983R. PilossofMr Red V8Brahman
1984Peter GrantBroadwell FarmRhoman Cherokee's Baron 11-82Brahman
1985R. PilossofRhuvale 24's Grand SaddleBrahman
1986Pioneer Santa GertrudisLilfordiaLil 82-51Santa Gertrudis
1987Peter Grant Holdings Pvt LtdRhoman Cherokee's Baron 11-82Brahman
1988Ruvale BrahmansV8 Ruvale Mr Red Mayro2/44 VR20-83Brahman
1989Ruvale BrahmansRuvale Navegante's Scott RV 28-86Brahman
1990NO PEDIGREE CATTLE SHOWN
1991Ruvale BrahmansRuvaale Navegante's Scott RV 28-86Brahman
1992Ruvale BrahmansRuvale Navegante's Scott RV 28-86Brahman
1993Mtangala FarmEsigodiniJasonJersey
1994Peter Grant Holdings Pvt LtdLazy M3 Red Detering 90-82Brahman
1995Ace Property & Investments Pvt LtdAce BergamoLimousin
1996J. C. Connelly & SonsFigtreeHereford
1997Dirk BuitendagLimousin
1998Heany Junction FarmHereford
1999Pama FarmLimousin
Heritage of Zimbabwe No. 18, 1999

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1 Comments

  1. Luke Chigubu on April 29, 2025 at 11:18 am

    This is excellent

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