CUT in drive to boost cattle breeds

Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has embarked on a massive artificial insemination programme in a bid to boost the quality of cattle breeds in Zimbabwe.

Last year, the university inseminated more than 1 000 cattle in some areas of Mashonaland West province including Hurungwe, Zvimba, Makonde and Sanyati.

The programme was later cascaded to other parts of Zimbabwe.

CUT animal health technician Mr Itai Mafaro Zengeni told the guest of honour at the Mashonaland West Agricultural Show, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Priscilla Mupfumira that the pilot project had so far benefited farmers in Mutare, Tsholotsho and Masvingo among other areas.

“Farmers pay $35 per one cattle and we inject the semen. We discovered that in our country, there was a lot of inbreeding and our cattle were not growing fast,” he said.

CUT teaching assistant within the Department of Animal Production and Technology Mr Eddington Gororo said 75 percent of farmers in Zimbabwe were into livestock production and there was need for quality breeds.

“We are also offering services on cattle breeding soundness,” said Mr Gororo. “If cattle are failing or struggling to reproduce we also screen them so that we can identify the root problem.”

Mr Gororo said cattle breeds being offered by the university were Brahman, Boran, Tuli, Mashona, Simmental and beefmaster.

He said the breeds also included a mixture of more than two breeds like Simbra, which is a combination of the Simmental and Brahman.

Some farmers who showcased their products at the show commended the project saying it was a cheaper way of accessing superior bulls.

“Instead of buying a bull which is very expensive we are now paying a basic cost of $35 which is affordable,” said Mr Peter Maseko of Hurungwe.

Some farmers also welcomed the programme saying their cows were taking as long as three years without calves due to the shortage of bulls.

Under normal circumstances a cow should have a calf on yearly basis.