Cattle are wealth, savings and status in much of rural Zimbabwe, and goats are the most practical livestock a small household can keep. Sound cattle farming in Zimbabwe comes down to a short list of fundamentals — feed, water, disease control and breeding — done consistently.
Grazing and feed
The grazing year has two halves. In the rainy season grass is abundant and animals gain condition; in the dry season, feed quality collapses and losses happen. Planning for the dry season during the wet one is what separates herds that come through in good condition from those that do not.
- Conserve feed — hay, crop residues such as maize stover, and legume hay where available.
- Supplement strategically in the late dry season, prioritising pregnant and lactating cows and weaners.
- Manage stocking rate. Overstocking degrades the veld and every animal suffers.
- Provide salt and minerals appropriate to your area — deficiencies are common and cheap to correct.
Water
Animals must drink daily, and walking long distances to water costs condition. Where water points dry up, plan the dry-season grazing around them rather than the other way round.
Disease and parasites
Tick-borne diseases are the biggest killer of cattle in Zimbabwe, and January disease (theileriosis) in particular has caused severe losses in recent years.
- Dip or spray regularly according to the schedule advised for your area, and keep it up through the peak tick season. Irregular dipping is worse than useless.
- Vaccinate according to veterinary advice for diseases prevalent in your district, including anthrax and blackleg where indicated.
- Deworm on veterinary advice rather than at random.
- Report suspected notifiable diseases such as foot and mouth to veterinary services immediately — movement restrictions exist to protect the whole area's herds.
- Isolate new animals before introducing them to the herd.
Government veterinary services and your local extension officer are the right source for schedules; they know what is circulating locally.
Breeding
- Keep good bulls or use artificial insemination, and avoid breeding from your own bull's daughters — inbreeding shows up quickly in a small herd.
- Manage the breeding season so calves arrive when grazing is improving rather than at the worst of the dry season.
- Cull honestly. Old cows, poor mothers and animals that never conceive consume feed that should go to productive stock.
- Keep simple records — calving dates, treatments, sales. Memory is not a herd record.
Goats: the practical smallholder animal
Goats need less feed and less land than cattle, browse where cattle cannot, breed faster and turn into cash quickly, which makes them ideal for households building up assets. They need shelter that is dry and predator-proof, regular deworming, foot care, and separation of bucks to control breeding. Kid mortality is the main loss point — dry housing and attention at kidding pay for themselves.
Selling well
- Sell in condition. Animals sold thin at the end of the dry season fetch the lowest prices of the year.
- Know the channels — auctions, abattoirs, private buyers, butcheries — and what each pays for.
- Weigh or estimate honestly and negotiate from information, not hope.
- Keep the paperwork — movement permits and clearance where required. Cattle theft is real and documentation protects you.
Theft and security
Brand or mark animals, keep records with identifying details and photographs, kraal stock at night, and report losses immediately. Communities that coordinate — shared herding, quick reporting — lose fewer animals.
Frequently asked questions
What is January disease?
A tick-borne disease of cattle, theileriosis, which has caused heavy losses in Zimbabwe. Consistent tick control and prompt veterinary attention are the defences.
How often should cattle be dipped?
Follow the schedule advised by veterinary services for your area and season — tick pressure varies, and irregular dipping leaves gaps that ticks exploit.
Are goats easier than cattle for a small farmer?
Generally yes. They need less land and feed, reproduce faster and convert to cash more easily, which suits households building assets from a small base.
When is the best time to sell cattle?
When animals are in good condition, typically after the rains rather than at the end of a hard dry season when prices and condition are both at their lowest.
Do I need permits to move livestock?
Movement permits and clearances are required in various circumstances, particularly around disease control zones. Check with veterinary services before moving animals.
More farming guides are on the guides page.