National cattle head grows to 5,5m

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ZIMBABWE’s cattle herd grew by 0,6 percent last year, following the launch of a five-year Livestock Growth Plan running up to 2025, which is expected to give sustainable solutions to challenges faced by ranchers and farmers.
In a post-Cabinet briefing this week, Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the national head grew from 5,478 648 million in 2020 to5,509 983 million last year, while the mortality rate declined from 11,1 percent to 8,86 percent during the period under review.

“There was an increase in the national small ruminants and pig population as follows: goats, 7,1 percent, sheep, two percent and pigs, 13 percent. Broiler breeders grew by nine percent, day old chicks by 19 percent, and broiler meat production increased by 17 percent,” she said.