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CLICK HERE to visit the 2024 BEEF SCHOOL PHOTO GALLERY
We warmly thank our generous
2024 Beef School Sponsors:
Beef School 2024 - resounding success!

Under the auspices of Livestock Registering Federation, the Zimbabwe Herd Book hosted its 12th edition of Beef School from 17 to 19 September 2024.

The theme for this year was ‘The Bottom Line: Streamlining Costs for Profitability’.

Each year of the Beef School is also focussed on a particular breed, and 2024 was the Year of the Tuli.

Beef School is an annual series of educational sessions designed to provide beef producers with the latest information and best practices. It 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, cash flows and viability of beef cattle operations, as well as management.

Importantly, the event features expert-led discussions and hands-on demonstrations covering the latest trends and technologies in livestock management. Attendees also have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas, and explore new business opportunities.

It is encouraging to witness the adoption of many of these technologies in beef cattle production in Zimbabwe. The school is dedicated to informing and training producers to ensure their operations are efficient and lucrative.

A capacity attendance of 160 delegates were accommodated and 16 companies sponsored the event. The Zimbabwe Herd Books is grateful to the sponsors of the event and all the participants who made the Beef School 2024 a huge success.

CLICK HERE for 2024 BEEF SCHOOL PHOTO GALLERY

Download full Beef School 2024 Programme HERE

Click HERE for a Beef School follow-up article by Agriculture Zimbabwe called 'The viability of cattle production'

Click HERE for Agriculture Zimbabwe's write-up of event

Click HERE for Agribusiness article pre-Beef School 2024

 

ZHB logo LIT logo
BREEDPLAN-LOGO Herdmaster-logo

 

Beef-School-platinum-sponsor National-Foods-Stockfeed-logo
Beef-School-gold-sponsors

Feedmix-logo

 

Coopers-shumba-group-logo

Beef-School-bronze-sponsors

Fivet-logo

MSD logo

 

Frontline-Farming-logo

 

Bain-New-Holland-logo

 

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Red-dane-farming-logo

Hyperfeeds-logo

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Additional Sponsors:
Donation Provision of Grandstands Provision of Meat
polachem logo CBC-logo koala-park-logo
Links to the Papers Delivered at Beef School 2024

Lick and How to Improve It - Rhys Sims

Ammoniation of Hay and Crop Residues - Claude Ndavambi

History of Indigenous Breeds of Zimbabwe - George Hulme and Dr Mario Beffa

Intensive Holistic Dryland Grazing Management - Ajs Kirk

Viability of Beef Cattle Operations - Jaco Erasmus

Why Data is King The BTB Simmentaler Experience - Johan Styger

Enzootic Stability to Tickborne Diseases - Prof John Lawrence

Cash Flows in Beef Cattle Operations - Jaco Erasmus

Practicalities of Selection for Fertility - Llewellyn Angus

DLVS and Disease Update - Dr Biko Gadaga

Maximising Productivity Through Precision Supplementation of Zimbabwean Beef Breeding Herds - Dr Hinner Köster

Functionally Efficient Breeding Animals - Llewellyn Angus

Making Best Use of Stovers - Ian Brown

Setting Up Breeding Goals - Johan Styger

Mineral Supplements in Licks and Their Importance for Immunity - Chris Cilliers

Practical Animal Health Branding Injecting Stomach Tubing - Dr Doug Bruce

Bush Meal - John Hodgson

Lew Bevan's Contributions to the Beef Industry - Prof John Lawrence

Manufacture of JD17 Vaccine - Dr Mark Jubenkanda

THE THIRD ZHB AWARDS - at Beef School 2024
BreedPlan-Completeness BreedPlan-Gold BreedPlan-Silver. BreedPlan-Bronze
BreedPlan Completeness of Performance Recording Fertility 2024

BREEDPLAN Star Rating assesses the quantity of pedigree and performance information submitted:

  • Analysed from animals born between 2018 and 2022 - 5 year period

  • Limited to breeds with breed runs: Boran, Brahman, Simbra, Simmental and Tuli
  • Limited to herds that submitted performance data during the year

Completeness of Performance Recording Awards 2024

3.5 Stars, Bronze Standard Herds - Honourable Mentions

Philip and Linda Reed REED BRAHMANS
Philip and Linda Reed ANIVAI TULI
Lianne Herbst LJ SIMBRA STUD
Fiona Irvine IRVINES DAY OLD CHICKS
Anne Cooke ZIMBO TULI STUD
Kevin Parsons FORRESTER ESTATE
Mark Hook HAVE HOOK BORAN
Dr TS Dlodlo NGUNI BRAHMAN
Joe Stewart LZ TULI

4.5 Star Silver Standard Herds:

Oscar Johnson - JAMBO TULI STUD - 155.9 points

BreedPlan Star Rating:

200 total points broken down into points
Animal Details (Sex, DOB, Sire, Dam) 60
Weight Traits (200d, 400d, 600d, MCW) 70
Birth Traits (CE, Birth Wt, AI Date) 40
Fertility Traits (Scrotal, DTC) 30

Future Measured traits: Feed Efficiency, Carcass and Meat Quality

3 to 3.5 Star: Bronze Standard:
Reasonable information: 105 points

4 to 4.5 Star: Silver Standard:
Comprehensive information: 135 points

5 Star – Gold Standard:
Complete information: 165 points

Fertility Awards Criteria:

Limited to own bred currently active cows with 2 or more calvings;

Age at First Calving < 44 months;

Lowest Intercalving Period (ICP) Four.

Categories:

Small 10 to 30 cows
Medium 31 to 60 cows
Large 61 to 100 cows
Very Large > 100 cows

Honourable Mentions for breeders within 1 month of category winner .

Fertility – Averages By Year

Year Herds Cows 2+ AFC ICP
2021 118 herds 32 44 478
2022 137 herds 29 44 490
2023 120 herds 33 43 456
2024 130 herds 32 43 502

10 or more cows - 82 herds:

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Min 10 31 385
Avg 49 44 543
Max 391 98 875

Small Herds - 36: 10 to 30 cows

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Min 10 32 385
Avg 19 49 572
Max 30 98 875

Fertility Awards 2024 - Small Herds

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Oscar Johnson – JAMBO TULI 21 36 416
Andrew Herbst - MH BORANS 26 32 385

Medium Herds - 29: 31 to 60 cows

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Min 32 32 390
Avg 46 41 530
Max 60 56 782

Fertility Awards 2024 - Medium Herds

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Wayne Greaves – ENONDO BRAHMANS 48 32 408
Jan Kageler – OLDONYO TULI 56 33 404
Philip and Linda Reed - ANIVAI TULI 45 34 390

Large Herds - 10: 61 to 100 cows

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Min 61 35 438
Avg 73 43 514
Max 87 58 658

Fertility Awards 2024 - Large Herds

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Irene Belinsky – BELL INN 84 36 461
Philip and Linda Reed - REED BRAHMANS 63 35 452
Joe Stewart – LZ Tuli 62 38 338

Very Large Herds - 10: >100 cows

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Min 108 31 407
Avg 158 38 502
Max 391 45 562

Fertility Awards 2024 - Very Large Herds

  Cows 2+ AFC ICP
Lianne Herbst - LJ SIMBRA 109 31 407
For full details of the ZHB Awards 2024 and the judging criteria used, download the Powerpoint file with this link
BREEDPLAN-LOGO Herdmaster-logo ZHB logo LIT logo
beef-school-2023-post-banner
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. Presenters were considered extremely knowledgeable with high quality presentations. Adequate time was allowed to encourage participation and interaction, with the aim of holding relevant and beneficial discussions for understanding issues. Sponsors were well represented, and audio-visual equipment excellent. All participants reported that their time was well spent at Beef School. The breed of year for 2023 was Nkone and the Society exhibited animals and promoted the breed.

Papers delivered this year are now available for download - see below!

Click HERE to visit our Beef School 2023 Photo Gallery.

To see the full 2023 Programme click HERE

If you didn't make it this year, be sure not to miss next year's edition!

You can register right now for Beef School 2024, to be held from 17 to 19 September: email [email protected]
or call +263 242 756 600 / 772 915 or call or WhatsApp +263 774 122 660

Topics covered under this year's theme included:

Our Generous Beef School 2023
Sponsors:

Polachem-logo

 

holistic-shangani-logo

 

Fivet-logo

 

windmill-logo


Agrifoods-logo

profeeds-logo


Coopers-logo

 

Feedmix-logo

 

National-Foods-logo


red-dane-logo

 

Catalyst-borans-logo

  • Pastures to improve soil health
  • Green manure
  • Breeding objectives and selection indices
  • Interpretation and use of EBVs
  • Tick resistance and tick-borne diseases
  • Cattle handling and Real Time Ultrasound scanning to evaluate carcass traits in live animals
  • Financial and production analyses
  • Nkone Breed Exhibition
  • Association between soil and animal health
  • Strategies for Effective Grassland and Savanna Management
  • Regenerative Livestock Management in Communal Farming Systems
  • Harnessing the Power of Fire in Grassland and Savanna Management
  • Anti-quality Factors in Veld Plants and Planted Pastures
  • National cattle disease update and biosecurity
Links to the Papers Delivered at Beef School 2023
Rinderpest in Zimbabwe 1896-98 - John Lawrence
Biosecurity - Philip Reed
Acaricides and Acaricide Resistance - Christopher Magona
Acaricides and Acaricide Resistance - Munyaradzi Dzvene
Anti quality Factors in Veld Plants & Planted Pastures - Dr Jan Myburgh
Setting Breeding Objectives - Kobus Bester
Live Animal Ultrasound Scanning - Nandi Kruger
Cattle Handling - John Crawford
Fanning the Flames - Prof Kevin Kirkman
Herding for Health Model - Jacques van Rooyen
Fattening Cattle on Pastures - Francis Yeatman
Zimbabwe Beef Producers' Society Presentation 2023 - George Chiunda
Financial & Production Performance Analysis for Beef Enterprises -
Jaco Erasmus

Cattle Disease Update - Dr Josphat Nyika
Is there an Association between Soil and Cattle Health? Dr Jan Myburgh
Strategies for Effective Grassland & Savanna Management -
Prof Kevin Kirkman

EBVs as a Tool - Kobus Bester
Green Manures, Cover Crops and Soil Health - Francis Yeatman
Tick Resistance and Disease - John Lawrence
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:

  • Analysed from animals born between 2017 and 2021 - 5 year period

  • Limited to breeds with breed runs: Boran, Brahman, Simbra, Simmental and Tuli

  • Limited to herds that submitted performance data during the year

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:

Place Cows with two or more calves AFC ICP Breeder Stud
1st 115 31 415 Lianne Herbst LJ SIMBRA

Medium Herds:

Place Cows with two or more calves AFC ICP Breeder Stud
1st 36 36 386

Phil & Linda Reed

ANIVAI TULI

Large Herds:

Place Cows with two or more calves AFC ICP Breeder Stud
1st 72 39 439 Dirk Odendaal OD BRAHMAN

Small Herds:

Place Cows with two or more calves AFC ICP Breeder Stud
1st 27 30 394

Andrew Herbst

MH BORANS

For full details of the ZHB Awards 2023 and the judging criteria used: Download the complete PowerPoint file using this link

BREEDPLAN-LOGO Herdmaster-logo ZHB logo LIT logo
ZHB-Beef-School-Banner-2022
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.

ZHB logo
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:

National-Foods-logo

 

profeeds-logo

 

Coopers-logo

 

Agrifoods-logo

 

Polachem-logo

 

Feedmix-logo

Housekeeping Awards

Gold: 1st Place - Lorna Joubert - Luipaardsvlei Brahman

Silver: 2nd Place - Anne Cooke - Zimbo Tuli

Bronze: 3rd Place - Philip and Linda Reed - Anivai Tuli and Reed Brahman

Completeness of Performance Recording Awards

Tuli - Philip and Linda Reed - Anivai Tulis - 3.5 Star Rating
Brahman – Dr Themba Dlodlo - Nguni Brahman Stud - 4.0 Star Rating

Fertility Awards

Very Large Herds:

Position Number of cows with two or more calves AFC ACI Breeder Stud
2nd 122 32 445 Fiona Irvine Irvcon Simentals

1st

170 31 402 Lianne Herbst Simbrahs

Large Herds:

Position Number of cows with two or more calves AFC ACI Breeder Stud
2nd 76 34 454 Jan Kageler Oldonyo Tuli

1st

83 38 439 Dirk Odendaal OD Brahmans

Medium Herds:

Position Number of cows with two or more calves AFC ACI Breeder Stud
2nd 40 33 416 Wayne Greave Enondo Brahman

1st

37 35 408 Themba Dlodlo Nguni Brahmans


Small Herds:

Position Number of cows with two or more calves AFC ACI Breeder Stud
2nd 120 40 453 Kennedy Maguta Maguta Brahmans

1st

12 37 407 Philip & Linda Reid Anivai Tulis

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.

Click HERE for details.

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Beer a Grills Beefeater logo

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

6. Local perspective on using Limpopo 200GG to improve carrying capacity of natural pastures - Ferdie Jordaan

7. Invasive Vegetation Management Products to Improve Grass Pastures - Polachem

8. Live Animal and Carcass Classification and Grading Systems Beef Cattle Goats Sheep in Zimbabwe - SLIDES - Dr Patrick Tawonezvi

8a. Live Animal and Carcass Classification and Grading Systems Beef Cattle Goats Sheep in Zimbabwe - FULL PAPER - Dr Patrick Tawonezvi

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

14. Budgets and Cashflow for cattle production - Accessing loans for beef farming enterprises - Erasmus Bhunu NMB

15. E-Livestock Global - LLC-A Blockchain Powered Global Traceability Platform for Healthy Livestock - Chris Light

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

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.

National-Foods-logo ZHB logo
Zimbabwe Herd Book extends sincere congratulations to
the following recipients:

Housekeeping Awards:

Bronze:    3rd Place Irene Belinsky Bell-Inn Droughtmaster
Silver:  2nd Place   Philip Reed Anivai Tuli and Reed Brahman
Gold:      1st Place Lorna Joubert Luipaardsvlei Brahman

 

National Foods Limited
proudly sponsored a prize of five tonnes of feed of Lianne’s choice.

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

Place #cows* AFC ACI   Breeder  Stud
3rd 38 35 404 Dr Themba Dlodlo Nguni Brahmans
2nd 12 35 403 Wayne Greaves  Enondo Brahmans
1st 160 32 391 Lianne Herbst Herbst Simbrahs

* Number of cows with two or more calves

Beef School 2021

Links to Papers and Presentations

ZHB Awards Beef School 2021

Bob Weaber - Ideal Cow Size

Doug Bruce - A New Calf Killer on the Horizon

Doug Follwell - Practical Cattle and Veld Experiences

Japie Jackson and Jesse Steele - Wabai Poisoning

John Lawrence - Theilerias and their control

Josphat Nyika - Current status of cattle diseases and their control in Zimbabwe

ZHB Beef School 2021 Sponsors and Exhibitor List

Beef School 2019

Links to Papers and Presentations

Charles Waghorn - Zimbabwe a Veterinary History

Steve Miller - Improved Productivity through Genomics

Ajs Kirk - Bush Dairy

Doug Bruce - Senkobo Disease

Ferdi Jordaan - Bush Control

Hugh Nivison - The Australian Experience

Izaan du Plooy - Beef Genomics Project

Johan Mouton - Heifer Rearing

Johan Mouton - Veld Management Principals

John Lawrence - Theileriosis Today

Kim Matthews - Beef Breeding Developments

Kim Matthews - The European Experience

Steve Miller - The USA Angus Experience

Wilmot Chikurunhe - Compartmentalisation

Beef School 2018: Links to Papers and Presentations

ZHB and LMAC Update Presentation at Beef School 2018

Cliff Lamb - Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle

Brad Crook - Developments in International Genetic Evaluations

Michael McGowan - Building a Fertile Herd

Reuben Mapletoft - Applied Reproductive Strategies in Livestock in Canada

Llewellyn Angus - Practicalities of Selection for Fertility

Cliff Lamb - Alternative Measures of Fertility

Michael McGowan - Superovulation of Cattle

Reuben Mapletoft - In-Vitro Embryo Production in Calves

Bobby Lawrence - Innovations with Forage Preservation

Brad Crook - Making Use of Genomics in Beef Cattle Breeding

Michael McGowan - Economics of Fixed Time AI

Cliff Lamb - Utilising Reproductive Management