The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
The national beef herd increased by over 37 000 cattle to 5 509 983 in 2021 from 5 478 648 a year earlier, according to the Second Round Crop and Livestock Assessment released recently.
Average cattle mortality also dropped by 11 percent in the review period.
“The national average calving rates remain very low, ranging from 35 percent in communal areas to 48 percent in 2022, against a national target of above 60 percent,” reads the report.
“The country managed to get all the targeted Presidential tick grease inputs of 1 006 178 kg.”
Overall, beef production increased by 30 percent from 50 000 tonnes in 2020 to 65 000 tonnes in 2021 against a national target of 90 000 tonnes by 2025, the report said.
“The beef carcass weight increased from 154kg in 2020 to 168kg in 2021 against the targeted average of 220kg.
“This is as a result of the semi-commercial beef cattle production systems by farmers.”
