Dublin Core
Title
ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN PRO POOR COMMUNITY BASED CATTLE BREEDING PROGRAM IN BULILIMAMANGWE DISTRICT OF ZIMBABWE
Creator
A. NCUBE
A.B. DUBEA
C.T. KHOMBEA
N. ASSAN
Description
Cattle rearing plays a crucial role in the semi arid communal
areas of Zimbabwe, as a result any developmental strategy that is
aimed at improving household livelihood in these areas should target
cattle production. The objective of the study was to assess the
impact of introducing improved indigenous cattle beef breeds in
Bulilima District of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. The study was
carried out in Masendu ward comprising of six villages of Luvuluma,
Mambo, Tjeboroma, Makumbi, Thandawani and Muke. A random
sample of 13 livestock farmers were selected from participants of the
Kellogg Foundation communal areas indigenous cattle (Tuli, Afrikaner
and Nguni) improvement program through a donation of improved
indigenous beef cattle bulls. Semi-structured questionnaires were
used to collect data on household demographics, socioeconomic
factors, herd structure, management practices and constraints in
cattle breeding program. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed
using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 2008) computer
software in order to generate descriptive statistics such as means
and frequencies or percentages. The study revealed an interesting
scenario on household demographics; the majority of the farmers
had formal education, with only 7.7% not having attained any formal
education. As a result of Kellogg Foundation bull donations some
farmers (15.4%) increased their herd size to more than 30 cattle
which improved their social status in the areas. Farmers interviewed
showed that they were motivated to keep improved breeds with
least more than half of the farmers reporting that the bulls to a
certain extent increased the number of cows serviced within the
community herds. Poor animal condition was reported in cattle herds
due to the inadequate supply of both water and nutrition, the latter
being caused by lack of good grazing. It was noted that government
support was necessary in infrastructure development in order to
improve community based cattle breeding programs. The need to
organise market to encourage smallholder farmers to sell their
animals was also cited. There was a belief that better prices were
achievable at local markets if the communal herd was genetically
improved for important economic traits. Therefore, the key
conclusion was that communal farmers had a positive perception on
improving the communal cattle herds. This warranted a multi-
sectoral approach to address different challenges that militate
against high cattle productivity in communal areas
areas of Zimbabwe, as a result any developmental strategy that is
aimed at improving household livelihood in these areas should target
cattle production. The objective of the study was to assess the
impact of introducing improved indigenous cattle beef breeds in
Bulilima District of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. The study was
carried out in Masendu ward comprising of six villages of Luvuluma,
Mambo, Tjeboroma, Makumbi, Thandawani and Muke. A random
sample of 13 livestock farmers were selected from participants of the
Kellogg Foundation communal areas indigenous cattle (Tuli, Afrikaner
and Nguni) improvement program through a donation of improved
indigenous beef cattle bulls. Semi-structured questionnaires were
used to collect data on household demographics, socioeconomic
factors, herd structure, management practices and constraints in
cattle breeding program. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed
using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 2008) computer
software in order to generate descriptive statistics such as means
and frequencies or percentages. The study revealed an interesting
scenario on household demographics; the majority of the farmers
had formal education, with only 7.7% not having attained any formal
education. As a result of Kellogg Foundation bull donations some
farmers (15.4%) increased their herd size to more than 30 cattle
which improved their social status in the areas. Farmers interviewed
showed that they were motivated to keep improved breeds with
least more than half of the farmers reporting that the bulls to a
certain extent increased the number of cows serviced within the
community herds. Poor animal condition was reported in cattle herds
due to the inadequate supply of both water and nutrition, the latter
being caused by lack of good grazing. It was noted that government
support was necessary in infrastructure development in order to
improve community based cattle breeding programs. The need to
organise market to encourage smallholder farmers to sell their
animals was also cited. There was a belief that better prices were
achievable at local markets if the communal herd was genetically
improved for important economic traits. Therefore, the key
conclusion was that communal farmers had a positive perception on
improving the communal cattle herds. This warranted a multi-
sectoral approach to address different challenges that militate
against high cattle productivity in communal areas
Publisher
Scientific Journal of Animal Science
Date
2015
Position: 240 (49 views)