Posts by Staff Writer
Unlocking your goat herd potential
Artificial insemination (AI) offers the rapid genetic improvement of your entire goat herd that you may never get with a live animal. Artificial Insemination (AI) is the process of collecting sperm cells from a male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive track of a female to cause a pregnancy. AI technology offers the…
Read MoreEmpowering Change: TIMB Launches Innovative Sustainability Programs for Tobacco Farmers
The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) is carrying out several sustainability programmes to ensure Zimbabwe’s tobacco is produced ethically while minimising environmental impact. This is in line with The Sustainable Tobacco Program (STP), an international initiative for tobacco merchants and industry players, which provides a framework for driving industry-wide sustainability standards. Sustainability speaks to…
Read MoreWinter herd maintenance with cover crops
Since 1984, the Agricultural Research Trust has remained a significant force in the field of agriculture, committed to delivering the state-of-the-art research and training. Through this, it has equipped Zimbabwean farmers with essential knowledge, practical guidance, and unwavering support. ART Farm sustains its research activities through the cultivation of commercial crops and the rearing of…
Read MoreEnhancing profitability through strategic breeding objectives
This is the fourth in a series of articles from this year’s Zimbabwe Herd Book’s annual Beef School. Presented by Johan Styger, the current Chairman of the Livestock Registering Federation (LRF) and member of the Simmentaler Breed Improvement Committee, it features valuable insights on the importance of strategic breeding objectives to enhance herd performance and…
Read MoreThe viability of cattle production
This article is the third in a series that shares highlights from this year’s Zimbabwe Herd Book’s annual Beef School. Presented by Jaco Erasmus, the technical adviser to the Zimbabwe Beef Producers Society, it focuses on the viability of cattle production. Spread over three days, the Beef School allows attendees to network with fellow beef…
Read MoreLa 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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