 |
|||||||||||
| The Zimbabwe Herd Book held another edition of Beef School from 19 to 21 September 2023 at the Mystique Conference Centre in Bulawayo. Beef School 2023 was fully subscribed and a great success! It offered an excellent opportunity for those who attended to enhance their knowledge on profitable cattle production. If you didn't make it this year, be sure not to miss next year's edition! Papers delivered will be available for download soon. |
|
||||||||||
Topics covered under this year's theme included: |
Beef School 2023's Generous Sponsors:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE SECOND ZHB AWARDS - at Beef School 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BreedPlan Completeness of
Performance Recording
BREEDPLAN Star Rating assesses the quantity of pedigree and performance information submitted:
Completeness of Performance Recording Awards 2023 4 Star Silver Standard Herds: Doug Follwell - NTUNTENI TULI STUD - 139.35 points Oscar Johnson - JAMBO TULI STUD - 137.75 points Philip and Linda Reed - ANIVAI TULI STUD - 136.80 points |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fertility Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Very Large Herds:
Medium Herds:
|
Large Herds:
Small Herds:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For full details of the ZHB Awards 2023 and the judging criteria used, follow this link | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe Herd Book Beef School 2022
With the support of generous sponsors, the Zimbabwe Herd Book hosted the 10th Edition of the Beef School. We had an exciting line-up of local, regional and international speakers covering a wide range of topics. The 2022 Theme was: 'Financial Sustainability in Beef Cattle Production'. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Click here for Zimunda Magazine Issue 10, which features coverage of Beef School 2022 (see page 31) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Tenth ZHB Beef School offered an exceptional programme, with extremely knowledgable speakers from around the world, combined with inimitable local presentations which were applicable to us all. Once again, we were indebted to the late Dr Michael Bradfield for his assistance and support from South Africa. Zimbabwean breeders are grateful for his tireless efforts for the regional beef industry.
Mario Beffa and the ZHB team were integrally involved in the setting up of this year's Beef School, and the programme for 2022 was exceptionally interesting, stimulating, and jam-packed with information. This year was the first Zimbabwe Beef School that was totally independent of the Aldam Stockman School, South Africa. We have learnt a lot from our neighbours and thank them for their assistance. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE SECOND ZHB AWARDS - at Beef School 2022 | Our Generous ZHB Beef School 2022 Sponsors are shown below: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe Herd Book extends sincere congratulations to the following recipients: |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Housekeeping Awards
Completeness of Performance Recording Awards
Fertility Awards Very Large Herds:
Large Herds:
Medium Herds:
For full details of the ZHB Awards 2022 and the judging criteria used, follow this link |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inauguration of The Michael J. Bradfield Memorial Scholarship Under the tutelage of the late Dr Michael Bradfield, Zimbabwe Herd Book adopted BREEDPLAN® in 2010 to service all stud breed societies in the country. Through this relationship with Michael, many Zimbabweans attended the Aldam Stockman School in 2010 and 2011 which, with Michael’s support, heralded the introduction of the Zimbabwean version of the Beef School in Harare in 2012 and held a week after the South African event. As a result of Michael’s ardent promotion of the Beef School, Zimbabwe has managed to attract a host of regional and international speakers to support presentations by local speakers. Michael also participated and gave presentations at most of the Schools and facilitated the attendance by Chairpersons and representatives from the Livestock Registering Federation. The Beef School has been an annual event and in 2020 was a shared online event with the Aldam School. The Beef School has been an exceptional platform to expose producers to cutting edge technologies in beef production across a wide range of fields including genetics, reproduction, nutrition, health, meat quality and management. Importantly, the interactions with speakers have extended beyond the event itself and it is encouraging to witness the adoption of many of these technologies in beef cattle production in Zimbabwe. The Livestock Registering Federation (LRF) is delighted to announce that the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI), Australia, have generously provided for a Memorial Scholarship for a M.Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity at Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), University of New England, in honour and recognition of the contributions of the Late Dr Michael Bradfield. Dr Bradfield (AGBU Ph.D. 1999) was one of South Africa’s leading animal geneticists who was particularly well-known for his life-long dedication to ensuring that on-farm livestock breeding practises take a more scientific approach with more extensive use of breeding values and genomics. Besides being a passionate advocate for technology, Dr Bradfield was also a great champion for the under privileged and this scholarship is presented with this same spirit of inclusion. The scholarship is meant to inspire the next generation of scientists and future leaders in this area. While the challenge increases in complexity over time, so do the tools, including methods for precision phenotyping and breeding using genomic technologies. Although all applicants are encouraged to apply with a project idea or passion in the area of livestock breeding, preference will be given to problems related to opportunities in Africa and developing countries as well as solutions for the pastoral industries. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Links to 2022 Beef School Papers 2. Rotational Grazing Systems that suit your environment - Prof Kevin Kirkman 3. Disease Update - Dr Josphat Nyika 4. Beef Value Chain Efficiencies and Delivering Value to Consumers - Blessing Ndoro 5. Invasive Vegetation Management Products to Improve Grass Pastures - Ray Young 7. Invasive Vegetation Management Products to Improve Grass Pastures - Polachem 9. Supplementation Feeding Backgrounding Animals Ready For Feedlot - Anna-Marie Verhoef 10. Better Animal Selection with BREEDPLAN - Catriona Millen 11. The science behind the Venter-Drewes grazing system for sourveld grasslands - Dr Richard Fynn 12. Matching Cow Size to Environment to Maximise Fertility - Dr Mario Beffa 13. Body Condition Scoring - Dr Doug Bruce 16. Cattle Auctioneering in Zimbabwe- Charles Rundle 17. What I Learned from Years of Research in Grazing Management - Prof Kevin Kirkman 19. Diagnosis and Treatment of Theileriosis - Dr Nick Mchardy and Dr Oswin Choga 20. Farm Biosecurity - Dr Doug Bruce
Beef School 2022 Speakers' Short Biographies (alphabetical order): |
|
| Dr Mario Beffa: First employment was at Matopos Research Station where, as Chief Research Officer, he was responsible for the administration of cattle breeding research programmes. His involvement with a long-term selection and genotype x environment interaction study with grade Afrikaner cattle formed the basis of his doctorate that he obtained in 2005. He was also responsible for the genetic conservation and improvement of the indigenous Nkone and Tuli Sanga breeds of cattle.
In 1999, Dr Beffa was appointed General Manager of the Livestock Identification Trust that successfully launched the Zimbabwe Cattle Traceability Scheme and in 2009 was also appointed the Manager of the Zimbabwe Herd Book, the registry for pedigree livestock in Zimbabwe. From 2001 to 2020 Mario also provided secretariat services for the Livestock and Meat Advisory Council and allied Associations, including the poultry, stockfeeds, pig, abattoir and fish sectors. He has also been invited as a consultant to various countries that have implemented traceability projects and has participated in the Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme sponsored by the European Union.
Erasmus Bhunu: MBA (University of Stellenbosch Business School), BSc Applied Accounting (Oxford Brookes University), ACCA, CIS, AIOBZ. Prior to re-joining NMB Bank Limited Mr Bhunu worked for Standard Chartered Bank from 1999 to 2002, NMB Bank Limited in 2003 and ZB Bank Limited from 2004 to Feb 2018. He re-joined NMB Bank on 1 March 2018 as Head of SME Banking and on 1 December he was appointed to Head Business Banking. Dr Douglas Bruce is a Zimbabwean veterinarian trained at Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty of Pretoria University in South Africa. He has experience in large animal practice, large scale intensive pig production and has dabbled in ostrich and crocodile production. He has worked in the animal health industry, the corporate world and in practise -always serving farmers and their animals. His main objective is to improve the efficiency of local producers and make them internationally competitive. Fradreck Chimhenga: MSc Banking & Financial Services (NUST), BBS (Honours) Finance & Banking (UZ). Mr Chimhenga joined NMB Bank in 2014 from Standard Chartered Bank where he was Head of SME Credit – Zimbabwe and Retail Credit Portfolio Manager – South Africa. He worked for Premier Banking Corporation / Ecobank and BancABC Zimbabwe where he held various positions. He also attended several courses in Risk Management and he is a member of the Institute of Bankers of Zimbabwe. Dr Oswin Choga is a Technical Advisor at Coopers Animal Health, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science from the University of Zimbabwe in 2013. He then joined Coopers Animal Health in 2014 and had the opportunity to work under the mentorship of the late Dr. E.V. Cock and Dr. M.B. Matingo who were well respected for their expertise in the livestock industry. As part of his duties, he has also worked with small-scale farmers either directly or through projects to improve livelihoods in rural areas. He is particularly passionate about livestock farming and has received much of his experience through working with some of the most seasoned cattle farmers across the country. Over the years he has developed an interest in veterinary parasitology. |
| Doug Follwell chose a career in agriculture, focusing on both cropping and livestock and over the years has managed a range of crop enterprises including tobacco, citrus, winter and summer row cropping. His real passion is livestock and over the years has encompassed extensive crocodile farming, specialising in cross-border translocation of animals in southern Africa and ostriches. He currently manages a large commercial herd of cattle under extensive conditions and has registered Limousin, Tuli and Dorper studs.
Fungai Nyagwande has been in the meat processing industry since 2001. He has worked for Spar Troutbeck, Rusape, Mutare, Kadoma, Ok Zimbabwe Rusape and Mabvuku and Meat n More Westgate. He was Butchery Coordinator for Tsebo Zimbabwe Harare Head office and Nurture Quality Beef.
He is an experienced block tester, meat processor to all standard cuts, sausage processor, some of his duties included meat inspection (quality control), hygiene maintenance, stock control, costing and biltong production of beef and game.
Dr Richard W.S. Fynn: National Diploma in Nature Conservation (Pretoria Technicon), BSc (Botany and Grassland Science, UKZN PMB), BSc Hons. (Grassland Science, UKZN PMB), MSc. (Rangeland Ecology, UKZN PMB), PhD. (Plant Ecology, UKZN PMB). Post Doc 2003-2005 (UKZN) working on grassland ecology as influenced by fire, mowing, habitat productivity and soil fertility. Post Doc 2005-2009 (Colorado State University) working on grazing and fire effects on grasslands in Kruger National Park and at Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas. Senior Research Scholar at the Okavango Research Institute (2009-2019), Associate professor at the Okavango Research Institute (2020 – present), working on rangeland ecology, plant ecology and herbivore ecology, as well as conservation science theory. His research interests are broad and related to plant-herbivore interactions, which can otherwise be referred to as grazing ecosystem ecology. He is particularly interested in the concepts of functional habitat heterogeneity and herbivore adaptive foraging strategies in relation to large spatial and temporal variation in resources in African savannah ecosystems, how herbivores may in turn engineer habitats and landscapes and how these factors affect the productivity and stability of herbivore populations. He is applying these adaptive foraging and ecosystem engineering concepts to livestock management such as development of optimal cattle ranching strategies and also to livestock-wildlife interactions and the problems of competition between livestock and wildlife. Richard conducts research on grazing management on cattle ranches in the Ghanzi region of Botswana. Finally, he is becoming increasingly interested in working towards improved conservation strategies that look beyond the protected area paradigm to a larger landscape approach in which local communities become the chief actors on the conservation stage. Blessing Gibson-Ndoro Bsc (Hons) Economics (University of Zimbabwe), Software Engineering IDPM (UK), Management Information Systems (University of Birmingham). Currently Chairman-Succulent Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Chairman-LMAC, Farmer and Livestock Producer. Worked as Managing Director in Public Telecommunications, Board Member of a Media House and Senior Manager in Government. Dr Japie Jackson was born on Riverton farm, Masvingo east and qualified with a BVSc from Onderstepoort in 1954. His first employment was as ranch veterinarian on Liebig’s Ranch in Beit Bridge, West Nicholson and Nuanetsi districts. In July 1955, he joined the government Veterinary department and was stationed at Lupane for the duration of the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, Gweru and at Chivhu. He was promoted and transferred to Bulawayo and his important duty was to investigate plant poisoning and its effects on livestock. He was then transferred to Masvingo and resigned in 1975 and went farming full time with a veterinary practice. His main interest since his youth has been the natural veldt and the interaction between cattle and vegetation. With cattle, fertility in the measure of their well-being and pregnancy diagnoses became the thrust of his practice. And now, with more than one and a half million PD’s later, done over and over again, on many different kinds of veldt, under so many kinds of management, in so many different seasons and on so many breeds of cattle, a picture has emerged in his mind which he shares often at field days and events like the Beef School. Ferdi Jordaan was born and raised on a farm near Kroonstad in the Free State. He obtained his matric at an agricultural high school in Kroonstad and then completed twelve months of compulsory military service. Ferdi received his Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of the Orange Free State in 1979. He joined the agricultural chemical industry in 1985 in research and development and provided technical support, initially in crop protection. He has since specialised in non-crop solutions, including control of problem plants. He has a keen interest in the phenomenon of bush encroachment and has been involved in this from the beginning of his career, working in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Professor Kevin Kirkman graduated from the University of Natal with a PhD in Grassland Science. He worked as a researcher for the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture for 9 years, involved in research and extension focused on grassland management. He then joined Clover SA for 2 years as a pasture advisor in the dairy industry. In 2001 he joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal as Professor of Grassland Science. He has also been the Head of the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture and Dean of Research for the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His research is focused on all aspects of grassland ecology and management, including research on grazing, fire and restoration. Chris Light is a seasoned Executive, Serial Entrepreneur, Technologist, Innovator, and Program Manager with over 25 years of experience. He is well known in the Technology, Entrepreneurial, Blockchain, and International Development communities. He has undertaken Information Communication and Technology (ICT) activities worldwide, including as an Information Technology Advisor for the Presidential Initiative to End Hunger in Africa. He spent three years as an Agriculture, Environment, and Economic Growth Technology Advisor in the USAID Africa Bureau. His work has been recognized at White House and Embassy level for the Department of State, together with Administrator level for USAID. He served three years as a co-chair for ICT4D/Digital Development for SID-W including serving twice as an Innovation Judge for their Annual Conference. Chris Light has a Master’s Degree from Boston University and a double Major/double Degree from the University of Maryland. E-Livestock Global is the fourth startup he has founded. Dr Nick McHardy is currently a consultant to Bimeda AMEA on tick-transmitted diseases. After obtaining his PhD at the University (Studies on immunity to Babesia rodhaini with special reference to auto-immunity) he discovered imidocarb (Imizol) for the treatment of anaplasmosis and babesiosis; discovered antitheilerial action of menoctone (1974) and a simple analogue, parvaquone (1976) launched as Clexon (1983); discovered buparvaquone (1982) and researched on vaccine for South American trypanosomiasis (T cruzi infection). At Wellcome Research Laboratory, Kwanyanga, South Africa he discovered a less toxic and more active analogue of the anaplasmacide gloxazone. At Wellcome Research Laboratories, UK, he led the development of buparvaquone for the treatment of all types of theileriosis, launched in 1993 as Butalex. As Development Manager at Coopers Animal Health he concentrated on anti-infectives for Butale, and the antibacterial Zaquilan. As Technical Advisor to UK-Aided project to develop a live vaccine for East Coast fever (theileriosis), NVRC Muguga, Kenya, Dr McHardy developed the Marikebuni strain of Theileria parva as single strain ‘infection and treatment’ vaccine for ECF. As Head of Research and development, Cross Vetpharm (Bimeda), Ireland, he led the development of non-antibiotic treatment for mastitis, Teat Seal (Bimeda) / Boviseal (Pfizer, Zoetis), Buparvex (generic of Butalex). At Bimeda AMEA, he is involved with new product development, Parvexon Plus (parvaquone + frusemide, 2012) for advanced theileriosis with pulmonary oedema. Catriona Millen is a technical officer with the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI)’s extension services. In this role, Catriona provides beef breeders with extension services and technical support to maximise understanding and use of genetic technologies, including the BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation. Catriona holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours). She has been with ABRI since 2015 and is based in Australia in Armidale, New South Wales. Dr Josphat Nyika is the Chief Director of the Department of Veterinary Services within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. He qualified with a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry from Kerala Agricultural University, India, in March 1986 before joining the Department of Veterinary Services as a Government Veterinary Officer in June 1986. He holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management. Dr Nyika was promoted to Provincial Veterinary Officer in 1993, Director of Veterinary Services in 2008 and to his current position of Chief Director in 2019. He is currently the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Permanent Delegate for Zimbabwe. Dr Nyika is a top-flight veterinarian with 35 years’ experience within the sectors of animal health and welfare, livestock production and strategic planning and management. Lisa Rumsfeld is the Vice President, Business Strategy and Development of Vytelle. Lisa has lived and worked in the US, Europe, and Asia over the past 25 years. She has experience in a variety of industries from data management, industrial products, animal health and precision agriculture technology. She has held a range of roles leading global sales and marketing teams. For the past 15 years, Lisa has been working with beef, dairy and swine producers to deploy precision livestock technology. Most recently focused around helping beef and dairy farmers use technology to accelerate genetics progress to increase efficiency and profit to be more sustainable. Lisa graduated from Villanova University majoring in economics. She later received her MBA from Thunderbird, The American Graduated School of International Management. Lisa speaks French, German and Spanish and resides with her family in Germany. Charles John Rundle was born 1951 and have lived in Zimbabwe all my life. He attended junior school at Thomas Rutland in Bulawayo and Senior school at Chaplin High School in Gweru. In 1970 he left school and joined Grindlays Bank for two years. He then joined the Agricultural Finance Corporation, working his way up to Regional Manager of Matabeleland. Charles left the AFC at the end of 1985 and in 1986 he joined Tunmer Midlands Auctioneers in Gweru. Tunmer would eventually become CC Sales Limited. He has been with the Company for 37 years, managing the Gweru office for 18 years. During his time in Gweru, he qualified as a Registered Estate Agent and Valuator. Charles is currently the Branch Manager of CC Sales, Bulawayo. After leaving the Agricultural Finance Corporation, he utilised his pension and purchased a farm in the Midlands. Charles began building up a beef enterprise alongside his employment at CC Sales, which had him working for the Company during the week and farming over weekends. Farming is one of his passions and to date he is still breeding cattle. This has complimented and added to his knowledge and enhanced his journey working for an auctioneering company, selling many head of cattle throughout the years. When he retires, he will be concentrating more on his beef enterprise which is something he is looking forward to. Anna-Marie Verhoef is a young animal nutritionist with experience in all aspects of feedlot nutrition. Her current focus is on efficient animal production as the future for African food security. Before joining ENS, she worked hands on at a leading commercial feedlot where she gained incredible knowledge of not only the business, but also what happens on the ground and the common challenges faced. Anna-Marie incredibly excited to be a part of National Foods Stockfeeds, Beef School and contribute, even if only marginally, to the growth of animal production in Zimbabwe. Ryan Warham studied culinary arts for 3 years at Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand. Worked as a chef for 14 years United Kingdom in hotels, restaurants and fine dining establishments. He since moved back to Zimbabwe where he worked at the 3 Monkeys in Vic falls for 2 years and returned back to Bulawayo where he now works part time as a chef at Banff lodge. It is Ryan’s passion and he really enjoy his job.Ray Young was born in Harare and attended Prince Edward School. He started his agricultural career in 1997 when he became employed with Agricura as a technical sales representative. His areas of focus were on the marketing of mixed cropping chemicals and the Animal Health anthelmintics and dips. Ray became Crop-Life Accredited in August 2000. In May 2004 he joined Southern Roses/ Flora Marketing as the Procurements manager for the group. In 2009, Ray joined Polachem as a technical sales representative where he is currently employed. Arysta Life Sciences (now UPL) introduced Polachem to their Invasive Vegetation Management (IVM) range of products in 2017 where he and other staff members at Polachem have been actively involved in the marketing and now developing these IVM products in Zimbabwe. Ray Young was born in Harare and attended Prince Edward School. He started his agricultural career in 1997 when he became employed with Agricura as a technical sales representative. His areas of focus were on the marketing of mixed cropping chemicals and the Animal Health anthelmintics and dips. Ray became Crop-Life Accredited in August 2000. In May 2004 he joined Southern Roses/ FloraMarketing as the Procurements manager for the group. In 2009, Ray joined Polachem as a technical sales representative where he is currently employed. Arysta Life Sciences (now UPL) introduced Polachem to their Invasive Vegetation Management (IVM) range of products in 2017 where he and other staff members at Polachem have been actively involved in the marketing and now developing these IVM products in Zimbabwe. |
| The New ZHB Awards at Beef School 2021
At the Beef School held in October 2021, the Herd Book presented its Awards for the first time. Three categories were chosen: Housekeeping, Performance Recorded and Fertility. |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zimbabwe Herd Book extends sincere congratulations to the following recipients: Housekeeping Awards:
National Foods Limited Click here for details of the Awards and criteria used to evaluate studs. |
Completeness of Performance Recording Awards:
Tuli - Oscar Johnson, Jambo Tuli Stud, 4.5 Star Rating Brahman – Dr Themba Dlodlo, Nguni Brahman Stud, 4.0 Star Rating Fertility Awards
* Number of cows with two or more calves |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
