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Pionering Limousins in Zambia
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By:
ARTURO CUTURI, Mutanda Farms
“Our feedlot at Mutanda Farms, sourcing cattle from our own
herds and Zambian producers, has experienced firsthand the
remarkable benefits of Limousin genetics. Limousin crossbred
calves reach target weights faster, with greater efficiency
and profitability, while also achieving 4%–5% higher
dressing percentages compared to other breeds.”
— Arturo Cuturi, Mutanda Farms
The Zambian Limousin journey began at Mutanda Farms in 2021,
driven by the desire to find a breed that could improve our
cattle operations’ performance. We sought to produce
efficient, productive weaners that could be fed profitably
while ensuring the long-term sustainability and
growth of our commercial cow herds.
Zambian beef industry
The beef cattle industry in Zambia has, for many years, seen
a decline in investment
in both the commercial and stud markets. This downward trend
has been driven by a plethora of factors such as rising
input costs, stagnant beef and breeding stock prices,
increased disease pressure, and continued climatic and
environmental challenges. With the increasing pressure being
placed on the sustainability of beef-producing cattle
operations in Zambia over recent years, there is a need for
producers to be innovative to ensure the profitability and
long-term sustainability of their operations.
Researching breeds
In 2020, we decided to realign our production strategy to
reduce costs and promote increased productivity and
efficiency. We aimed to ensure we would produce cattle that
remain fertile, hardy, adaptable, and productive in our
environment, while also promoting improved performance in
the feedlot.
In line with our renewed strategy, we understood the need to
realign the composition of our herds and the breeds being
utilized to enable us to achieve our goals. Following
extensive research, we realized that it would be of critical
importance to select and utilise breeds that complement our
management system and approach, while also navigating a
challenging, highly variable environment. We aimed to
utilize two breeds in our crossbreeding
program that would offer us the “best of both worlds” when
used together in our cross-breeding program. After much
consideration and research, we settled on a combination of
the Boran and Limousin breeds – and what a choice it has
ended up being!
Establishing Boran and Limousin studs
Due to our geographical location in the North-Western
Province in Zambia, we
realised early on that regularly importing
bulls for use in our commercial herds would quickly
become a costly and challenging exercise. This was due to
the distance from suitable suppliers, challenges with the
import of livestock, and the
challenges animals face in adapting after such a massive
change in environment. Off the back of this, the decision
was made to form our own Boran
and Limousin studs. The founding
stock for our Limousin stud comprised three bulls and twelve
heifers, sourced from the La Rhone, Devlan, and Coco studs.
These animals arrived in Zambia early in 2021 and quickly
settled, making a distinct impact in a very short time. From
here, our
stud has grown from strength to strength. We are privileged
to have access to such a diverse array of genetics, sourced
from several different breeders.
Crossbreeding
Limousin bulls are the cornerstone of our commercial
cross-breeding programme, offering us the ability to utilize
hardy, adaptable, and fertile Boran-type cows paired with
bulls that offer predictability and performance in both the
female and male offspring. We realized early-on the
importance of selecting the right “type” of animals for our
operations and the environments we operate in. It became
clear
early-on that we would aim to breed with
and produce animals that are medium-framed, easy-fleshing,
and early- maturing, with good walking ability and the
ability to maintain themselves with minimal supplementation
or interference. This makes the combination of the Limousin
and Boran all the more appealing to producers, as the
predictability, performance, and productivity of the
Limousin pairs exceptionally well with the hardiness,
fertility, and resilience of the Boran, which can thrive and
produce even in the most
challenging environments.
Our commercial herds are currently comprised of a wide
variety of Boran-influenced cows, which are paired with
carefully selected Limousin bulls. This combination allowed
us to produce small calves that grow rapidly and develop
into productive, profitable feedlot steers with improved
feed conversion and weight gain. At the same time, it
enables us to retain the vast majority of our heifers,
critical to the continued growth and sustainability of our
cattle business.
Extensive farming conditions
We farm our cattle extensively, in areas that place
substantial pressure on them. With a high prevalence of
tick-borne diseases, extreme variances in grazing quality
and availability, and the need for cattle to cover large
distances, making
for a challenging environment for cattle to successfully
produce. We have been pleasantly impressed by the resistance
and adaptability of Limousins and the Limousin crossbred
commercial cows. This is a testament to years of stringent
selection, and the resulting progress made by breeders in
Southern Africa - people who recognized the need to breed
Limousins that are more commercially relevant, able to
withstand the challenges of Africa’s varied environments and
climates.
Feedlotting
Our feedlot, which feeds a range of different breeds and
crossbreeds of different compositions, sourced from our own
herds and other producers around Zambia, has seen the
immense difference Limousin genetics are making. We are able
to feed the Limousin cross-bred calves to the desired
weight, in a shorter period, more efficiently and
profitably, while also achieving dressing percentages which
are on average 4%-5% higher against carcasses of other
breeds and crossbreeds.
The future of Limousins in Zambia
We are optimistic about the Limousin’s future in Zambia’s
cattle industry as well as the broader African sector. We
believe immensely in the Limousin breed’s potential to make
an increasingly prominent impact on the profitability and
productivity of the cattle industry, especially in the
production of beef.
We look forward to seeing the Limousin breed grow in our
cattle operations and are excited about the potential for
the breed to further expand its footprint in many more
African countries, as more and more producers realise the
benefits it brings. |
