HomeOld_PostsCloser look at the benevolent Bonsmara

Closer look at the benevolent Bonsmara

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WHILE in the past I advocated the development and growth of the indigenous Zimbabwean MaShona cattle breed with its inherent disease-tolerance and low maintenance costs, there are several other cattle breeds that are also well-suited to our local conditions which could benefit established commercial ranches and the new indigenous farmers in the Zimbabwe Command Livestock Programme.
As I have often reiterated, ignorance of our potential as an agricultural powerhouse is a serious disease, though very curable through the development of knowledge.
Given Zimbabwe’s agro-cultural predisposition for cattle ranching and our suitable terrestrial ecology for the development of cattle pastures, it is necessary for Zimbabwe to acquire and develop new breeds of cattle and adapt diversity and hybridity to improve the national herd.
In this case, the need to know and develop other cattle breeds suited to Zimbabwean conditions is important.
Cognisant of President Emerson Mnangagwa’s calls to revive the beef industry and cattle ranching, it is mandatory that we examine alternative cattle breeds suitable for our terrain — essential for the growth of livestock and the beef industry.
Apart from the mainstay seven breeds of cattle common in Zimbabwe — MaShona, Tuli, Nguni, Boran, Brahman, Beefmaster and Simental — is the ‘Bonsmara’ cattle breed.
Known as the benevolent Bonsmara, the breed gives you the best of both worlds – fertility and cost effectiveness.
Genetically, this breed is the optimal choice when searching for premium cattle genetics that provide the benefits of a bos indicus animal with the temperament and meat quality of the bos taurus breeds.
Bonsmara brings the functional efficiency needed for crossbreeding with British breeds and other occidental breeds that the bos indicus breed cannot provide.
The Bonsmara is a breed of cattle with certain breeding advantages for the southern African region.
While the breed has been well-established in neighbouring South Africa’s Freestate and Limpopo regions for decades, it is still a fledgling breed in Zimbabwe.
They are adaptable to different environments and livestock production conditions.
But what is the Bonsmara breed and where did it originate?
The Bonsmara cattle breed is named after a Professor Jan Bonsma (b. March 1909), an animal genetic expert who initiated the breed in the late-1930s at a research station in the Mara region (Limpopo Province). This followed his return from undertaking graduate animal husbandry research at Iowa State University in 1937 in the US.
Known as the ‘father of the Bonsmara breed’, Bonsma scientific experiment resulted in a cattle breed that incorporates the hardy Afrikaner crossed with a European breed (Hereford x Shorthorn), called Bonsmara – from Bonsma and the Mara and Messina Research stations from 1937 to 1963.
The reason for developing the Bonsmara breed was to establish an efficient beef breed suitable for the warm bushveld and sub-tropical areas of South Africa.
Bonsmara’s adaptability and fertility make it easy to grow herd sizes.
It is versatile, adaptable, cost effective and commercially viable. Due to its resistance to diseases and versatility traits, the breed can withstand the sourveld grazing area of southern Matabeleland and the dry south-western areas of Zimbabwe.
Given Zimbabwe needs to breed livestock animals that achieve a desirable balance between productivity and net profit, the Bonsmara is a suitable breed for new Zimbabwean cattle ranchers.
Bonsmara livestock breeds show the least climatic stress and produce the most profit. This breed is genetically bred to excel even under harsh conditions and inclement climates.
The Bonsmara breed is functionally efficient and well-adapted to the extensive southern African climate.
They are very fertile and breed small to medium calves for easy calving every year.
The calves have a steep growth potential and reach a very efficient wean weight in a short duration.
Bonsmaras have an inherent calm temperament and are easy to handle, requiring minimum growth standards, stockfeeds and pastures to produce high quality meat.
The average age at first calving for the Bonsmara is 26 months and three large stock units are recommended per hectare as its maximum veld carrying capacity.
Strictly selected according to the needs of commercial farmers, all registered Bonsmaras are performance tested, inspected and approved according to minimum breed standards.
Certified and approved pure-breed Bonsmara bulls are uniquely branded with a ‘B’ on the right shoulder.
In appearance, the Bonsmara cows have a good wedge-shaped narrow chest and wide rump with appropriate muscling for prime beef, over-and-above their fertility and adaptability.
On the other hand, Bonsmara bulls are generally well-muscled and grow to exceptional size.
The Bonsmara is a breed of cattle well-worth its investment.
The breed represents a desirable balance between productivity, capital outlay and net profit; hence many cattle producers have labeled it ‘the bankers’ cow, in reference to its breeding reliability and steady increase in stocks.
The Bonsmara is an ideal breed for the African continent and is one of the rare breed animals that achieve a desirable balance between productivity and net profit.
Bonsmara beef quality
Producing a consistently tender, juicy, yet lean meat product, Bonsmara beef has been a favourite in South Africa for well-over 50 years, including Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland in the last 30 years.
Lately, Bonsmara beef is now available in the US and it is the new beef product American consumers crave.
Beef from Bonsmara cattle is lean, without sacrificing tenderness, flavour or consistency.
In fact, DNA markers reflect Bonsmara beef is more tender than the beef currently produced by the existing British breeds in the US.
This consistency in tenderness is what beef consumers desire worldwide.
Given our nation’s national commitment to food security, sustainable ranching and profitable livestock farming should be our indigenous farmers’ utmost goal.
The research and development of new breeds should be encouraged and the necessary instruments to achieve this be put in place.
Zimbabwe’s development of African indigenous stud breeders in agro-business will go a long way in boosting the cattle breeders’ industry and the development of subsidiary agro-business such as stock-feeds for cattle, milk, leather and animal veterinary provisions.
Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a writer, lecturer, musician, art critic, practising artist and corporate image consultant. He is also a specialist art consultant, post-colonial scholar, Zimbabwean socio-economic analyst and researcher.
For views and comments, email: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com

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