Zimbabwe has an estimated 5,4 million cattle.

THE European Union (EU) will early next year unveil a €40 million grant to assist Zimbabwe develop its livestock.
This is meant to improve the supply of beef, spur productivity and competitiveness of the product coming out of Zimbabwe.
“The second phase of concentration of our assistance to Zimbabwe will focus on supporting the agricultural sector,” said EU councillor political affairs, Giles Enticknap.
“We hope to have a €40 million agricultural growth grant that we hope to adopt before end of year and implement in 2016.”
The EU was once the country’s major beef market until it banned beef imports from Zimbabwe in 2000.
This followed the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which affected most parts of the country.
Enticknap said the European bloc was committed to assisting local companies meet EU standards through various programmes.
Already, the EU is in the process of assisting the Standards Association of Zimbabwe upgrade its laboratory to world class standards.
“The EU market has always been an important destination of Zimbabwean products. Of course the EU market has high hygiene and sanitary standards because it seeks to protect its consumers,” he said.
In order to grow the national herd, government believes that cattle farmers must increase the calving rate, which currently stands at 60 percent.
Zimbabwe has an estimated 5,4 million cattle.
The biggest herd was in 2000 at 6,9 million cattle.
“In growing the national herd, it’s not just growing the number, but the inefficiencies of production are a major concern. We are at a capacity of 60 percent calving rate, which is where we have a problem,” noted the Deputy Minister of Agriculture responsible for livestock, Paddy Zhanda.