Fisheries Ministry implements cattle growth strategy with insemination

By Rosemary Kamanga

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has embarked on a project to increase cattle population in the country through artificial insemination.

Livestock Development Assistant Director KABEMBA MWAMBILWA says government has invested in a liquid nitrogen plant which will ensure liquid nitrogen is readily available for use in the artificial insemination.

Mr. MWAMBILWA has told ZNBC in an interview that this is one of the measures the Ministry has put in place to achieve President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’s directive of increasing the cattle population from four point five million to seven million by 2027.

He said lack of a liquid nitrogen plant has prevented the use of artificial insemination as a means of increasing cattle population.

Mr. MWAMBILWA said other interventions include improving the bull- cow ratio to twenty cows per bull, stocking and restocking of cattle, and community breeding schemes among others.

And Agriculture Institute of Zambia Registrar MATTHEWS NGOSA acknowledged measures government has put in place to support cattle production through improving the breeding herds, providing market support and best practices in grazing management and pastures.

Mr. NGOSA however said there is need in improve breeding programmes that focus on genetic traits such as disease resistance, growth rate and milk production.