LAST week, I talked about beef exports to a neighbouring country. It is true for this to work out well our farmers have to do something about the way they rear the animals to fit into this market.
In the past the Ministry of Agriculture had a scheme called the National Beef Scheme. The idea was to improve the rearing of the local cattle and specifically beef cattle because these were locally available to farmers who had to become members of this scheme for them to benefit.
In addition the department was trying to improve the local material and at the same time to preserve the local genes.
Yes, some farmers who had a bit of money used to buy improved bulls from the commercial livestock farmers who were well established. But to a greater extent, this was weakening the local animals in that the imported breeds were not as hardy as the local breeds. As of today, there are very few which can be classified as local cattle breeding has been rampart. Only minor traces can be seen in the so-called improved cattle of the local material.
Imported breeds even today cannot stand the challenges of the local conditions endured by the local breeds which were bred by our local cattle farmers dotted all over the country.
It is interesting to understand as to how comfortable were the local cattle. Some of the conditions that favoured these animals were the hump either on the neck or thorax.
Local conditions are harsh hence, the hump assists in survival during hot and arid periods and therefore, aiding in heat tolerance in the dry conditions.
Imported cattle from outside Africa fail to cope with local harsh conditions, unless they are introduced to comfort zones.
Our local cattle in the past were able to tolerate external parasites in this case ticks. This time I even wonder why tick-free animals among the so-called local cattle cannot be recognised.
A research was carried out at Lutale in Mumbwa many years ago. This, if it had proved effective many cattle as of today could have been saved because losses were not going to be there.
The cost of rearing could have been much cheaper, no dipping was going to be involved as ticks did not favour riding or getting attached to such animals.
Our cattle, I mean with the international trade in beef now coming should see good improvement if once again attempts are made to breed cattle to produce an ideal animal which can live easily in hot climates and produce good quality beef.
Such animals if bred should have the resistance to ticks, disease and heat as the Angoni or the Tonga which the imported breeds do not have such ability. The dewlap serves as an additional surface for cooling the body.
If we are to achieve this, our livestock farmers, especially traditional cattle keepers who are equally beneficiaries to this programme as well must therefore, do away with the thought of keeping cattle for prestige.
They must keep cattle to gain an income. An organised breeding programme taught by extension officers must be followed and proper cattle management to do with the way they are taken for grazing not to be in the same area to avoid overgrazing and high infestation build-up of parasites.
And avoiding serving small heifers when they come on heat, this results in producing small, weak calves and cannot provide enough milk for them.
It is therefore, important to look back on the ideas concerning the national beef scheme, which may be a booster to our traditional cattle farmers to improve cattle production.
Through such a scheme low standard of cattle rearing would come to an end and earn economic awareness. Finally grow the livestock industry.
Commercial cattle farmers I believe have welcomed this type of business and the traditional cattle farmer should not be left behind. They should be partners in this new sector of international trade.
This has been a sleeping sector which can even open up other processing sectors and creating jobs for the people. We can be on the level of being beef exporters in the region. There is potential in our animals.
