The synopsis of cattle performance in Zimbabwe’s ‘Initial’ resettlement areas after land reforms and redistribution

Abstract

Cattle performance was monitored over a two year period in a settle area, a spatial land-use product of Zimbabwe’s land reform post-independence. A total of 30 farmers each owning at least 5 cattle in 3 selected villages of a 20 village settlement scheme were targeted for the study. Participating village rangelands were assessed monthly for biomass yield in different physiognomic cover classes. Cattle in the study were monitored over a two year period for reproduction (calving rate and frequency, re-calving rates) and exit records (sales, slaughter, deaths, exchange and buy-in) under farmer management conditions. Cattle weights, exit and reproductive records were analysed as measures of performance. The study found low to medium calving rates (25-40%) and low re-calving rates (16-26%), with diminished nutrition and low off-take (7.3 – 18.7%) as major impediments to cattle performance. Monthly cattle weights fluctuated with quantity of available grazing biomass, and were lowest during the dry months (September – December). Cows and heifers were affected more by diminished nutrition than steers. The study concluded that improving nutrition, increasing off-take and possibly availing bulls in resettlement areas were appropriate actions to increase cattle performance in the short to medium term, complemented by adequate veterinary practices.