MASHONA CATTLE SOUTH AFRICA
SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN RESULTS
The Mashona breed was scientifically researched over several decades at the Matopos research ranch and established as the most productive beef cattle breed in Zimbabwe. This research highlighted three traits of the Mashona that forms the cornerstone of sustainable beef production. These are fertility, low maintenance requirements and cow productivity (beef/ha).
Below is a collection of tables that highlights the results of how the Mashona performed at Matopos in comparison to other Sanga and Bos Taurus cattle breeds.
Reproduction and calf survival (%) of purebred cows at Matopos trials (1979-1986)
1. Number of cows put to the bull (1979-1985)
2. Calves born/cows put to the bull x 100
3. Calves born to cows that were nursing at bulling (all nursing cows x 100)
4. Calves weaned/cows put to the bull x 100
5. Calves weaned/calves born x 100
REPRODUCTION: PUBERTY AND EARLY CALVING
From the research data shown in the table below it is clear the Mashona is an early sexually maturing breed. The study shows that Mashona heifers can reach puberty as early as 362 days and body masses of 149kg. The significance of this research is that it shows Mashona heifers can effectively be mated at 15 months of age, provided that their nutritional plane ensures sufficient growth and body mass. It was also found that body mass at first mating should aim to be at approximately 70% of mature cow mass (235kg) to ensure a high conception rate.
Live mass, body dimensions and reproductive responses of weaner Mashona heifers at three planes of nutrition.
COW PRODUCTIVITY
Agricultural production is measured in terms of volume produced per hectare. Therefore, if beef cattle production and profitability is to be compared to other forms of agricultural outputs, one has to measure the output of calf (or meat) produced per cow over a 12 month cow-calendar-cycle (calving-mating-calving).
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The tables below shows the research done in 1988 as part of the Matopos cross-breeding trials. It is clear that the Mashona' s high calving percentage, pre-weaning survival rate and weaning mass per unit of cow size combine to produce the highest annual production (kg of calf) per cow unit of all the breeds and crossbreeds used in the Matopos trials in Zimbabwe.
Comparative productivity of indigenous (Zimbabwe) and exotic cows in the production of crossbred calves.
(Adapted from Tawonezvi et al, 1988)
A comparison of productivity of cows mated to a range of terminal sires, evaluated at Matopos (1974 to 1990)
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A = Afrikaner; B = Brahman; C = Charolais; M = Mashona; N = Nkone; S = Sussex; Sire breed listed first.
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Survival rate of calves to weaning.
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Weight of calf at 18 months per 100kg live weight of cow exposed to the bull.
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% Calf maturity at 18 months of age. Expressed as percentage of mature cow weight.