Saturday’s 10th Boran production sale set for excellence

In Zimbabwe, the Boran cattle, continue to gain countrywide recognition and build on their reputation as a breed with the ability to turn low-grade roughage into high-quality beef.

Exported from Kenya to South Africa, Zambia and beyond, these adapted, resilient, hardy and fertile cattle have proven their value, and here in Zimbabwe, they continue to win favour among local breeders and commercial cattlemen.

Since its establishment in 2011, the Zimbabwe Boran Breeders Society has provided a platform for those passionate about this breed. The society organised its first production sale in 2015, and over the years, the event has grown into a well-regarded fixture on the cattle sales calendar. This year, the 10th annual production sale marks an important milestone.

The sale is scheduled for Saturday, 21 June at 10 am at CC Sales Mount Hampden, with pre-sale viewing taking place on Friday, 20 June at 2 pm.

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from nearly 90 Zimbabwe Herd Book-registered Boran cattle (bulls, cows, cows with calves and heifers), each animal representing proven genetics and the potential for profitable performance on a low-maintenance programme.

Federico Maisonnave

Highlighting this year’s event is guest speaker Federico Maisonnave, a world-class cattle producer and breeder flown in from Paraguay.

With roots in Montevideo and decades of experience managing and breeding cattle across South America, Federico offers a practical perspective on why Boran have become a vital tool for increasing production per unit of land. His insights draw on hands-on experience with different cattle breeds and his strategic shift towards Boran genetics when conventional breeds fell short in challenging environments.

Why Boran genetics? In Federico’s own words: “I knew that to increase production per unit of land I needed to have harder cattle, but without losing fertility and live weight production. At same time I knew that Brahman and Nellore (very popular in South America) were not the answer. We needed cattle that could take eight months of dry weather and high temperatures, process low protein standing dry grass for about four months and that would be able to improve out fertility and losses numbers at same time.”

“Being able to tour ranches and farms in five continents and having the opportunity to work with the breed for three years now, I can tell you that the future for the Boran can be brilliant on all of them. It has all the productive characteristics that the producers need for being profitable on low inputs grass systems. In a matter of fact, the genetic nucleolus made in Paraguay has exported genetics to several American countries already. If you think on the cow for the next 20 years, the Boran females have it all.”

The scale of the volume of cattle under Federico’s management is staggering. He manages two companies in Paraguay and also has his own stud herd.

The first company, Green Pastures Group, comprises 10,000 head on a 10,000 ha of land (7,000 ha of grass) within a full cycle production (breeding-raising-grass finishing) and 2025 will see the breeding of 4,000 dams.

The second company, PanTerra Partners, rents 3,000 ha of grass for 3,000 head of cattle for backgrounding, finishing and selling to packing plants.

These two operations were built up from no land and cattle in the course of five years and both are mainly commercial Brangus cattle crossed with zebu cattle.

Federico’s own registered Brangus stud herd comprises 100 dams and 20 donors.

Jimmy Brookes (ex-President of the Kenya Boran Society) and Francois Smit of Fonteine Borans (President of the South African Boran Society), are giving talks at Wednesday’s ZBBS field day at Forrester Estate in Mvurwi and will also be present at Saturday’s sale.

Prizes on Saturday

Adding extra incentive this Saturday, the platinum sponsors, National Foods Stockfeeds, will be holding a competition, with prizes of cattle feed totalling USD 5,000. This generous offering underscores the commitment to supporting advancements in sustainable cattle farming through the adoption of robust genetics.

This production sale represents not just a celebration of marked achievements, but also an opportunity to embrace new strategies for cattle genetics improvement that can serve the needs of both local and international markets. With expert insights, high-quality Boran genetics, and attractive prizes, the event promises to be essential for anyone serious about advancing their herd.

What might be the potential long-term impacts of these genetic investments on regional cattle farming? How will the innovations shared today shape tomorrow’s livestock production? These are just a few aspects to consider as the sale sets the stage for another year of practical advancements in sustainable cattle management.

Photos shared by the ZBBS