The potential of reproductive technologies in breeding smallholder cattle populations in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Cattle are critical to most smallholder agricultural livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa. A study was carried out to assess breed and trait preferences, breeding practices, application and potential adoption of novel reproductive technologies by smallholder cattle farmers in four districts of Zimbabwe. The study revealed that famers are subsistence oriented and follow a resource driven production system. Herd size averaged 7.5±6.42, with dominance of indigenous breeds and their crosses, open communal breeding and non-existence of reproductive technology application. The major challenges faced include reproductive and tick-borne diseases, dry season feed shortage, and poor access to affordable good quality bulls. Brahman, Mashona, Afrikaner and Tuli were the most preferred breeds for their hardiness, fertility, reproductive efficiency and draught performance attributes. Low reproductive efficiency was revealed by long bull retention periods (>5 years), long calving intervals (>18 months), low pregnancy rates (41% of cows) and high ages at first calving (34 months). Farmers indicated moderate knowledge of artificial insemination and keen interest in using this technology with semen frozen from locally bred, indigenous sires to improve their herds. There is therefore both need and potential for the application of assisted reproduction techniques for improved genetic gain, performance and reduced inbreeding in smallholder cattle herds.

Use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Managing Cattle Health in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Feeds shortages and quality [28][29][30] Diseases and parasites [5,25,31] Markets and prices [32,33] Breeds and breeding [34][35][36][37][38] Management [25,39] Water access and quality [23] Extension service [5,23] Capital and other financial resources [40] Table 1.…”

Enteric methane emission estimates for the Zimbabwean Sanga cattle breeds of Tuli and Mashona

“…In Zimbabwe, the Tuli and Mashona are the dominant indigenous cattle breeds (Ramsay, 2010). The two breeds have been the most preferred among communal farmers because of their adaptability to the local climatic conditions (Gororo et al, 2017). With the possibility of an expansion of dry regions due to climate change, Mashona and Tuli are going to be more desirable for beef production in Zimbabwe.…”

Is neutral genetic diversity related to quantitative variation in semen traits in bulls?

“…These breeds harbour considerable genetic diversity and unique genetic variants (Gororo et al, 2018), and adaptive traits important for coping with undesirable changes to production and climatic conditions, and surviving emerging disease epidemics and parasites (Wilson, 2009). In the region, Sanga cattle are particularly valuable due to their diversified production ability, potential for multi-purpose use (Gororo et al, 2017;Rowlands et al, 2003), and possession of better fertility, fitness and health traits compared to exotic breeds (Moyo, 1997).…”