Cattle's lifespan is 4 years: LED Strategists say

SMALL-HOLDER farmers in Zimbabwe have been urged to adhere to the livestock management practices to reduce the emission of green-house gases that pollutes the air and ultimately destroying the ozone layer.

Speaking at an Agriculture and Forestry (AFOLU) sector stakeholder meeting, the livestock production sciences and health specialist Walter Svinurai urged cattle rearing farmers to ensure that they stick to the 54 month period of the cattle breeds for the benefit of protecting the environment from extremes of weather recorded this year including high temperatures and induced floods.

According to Svinurai, the lifespan of cattle should be reduced to four and a half years despite cultural practices of viewing livestock as a sign of wealth and respect in a society.

“At that age all animals with four legs will have matured,” said Svinurai. “Farmers are therefore advised to be managing the production for sustainable development, not the 10 years.”

Currently, the majority of small-holder farmers are Zimbabweans are based in the rural areas where cattle rearing is largely done in Matabeleland areas with low risk of diseases affecting breeds.

Svinurai added: “After that period, it’s an empty bag whose emissions are just not necessary, and causing land degradation in the grazing process.”

“Livestock production and productivity challenges remain a challenge in mitigating emissions in Zimbabwe as stipulated in the agriculture policy,” said Svinurai.

According to a 2010 baseline survey, the emissions from the livestock account for 44 percent in the agriculture sector, an amount that climate change specialists are working on implementing policies to project the mid-century low emission development strategy (LEDS) target.

2016 results from the TNC account for agriculture as the second largest emitter of green-house gases such as methane gas and nitrate oxide.

Some other sectors- such as energy, industry and waste sector- have become a target for the reduction of emission of greenhouse gases due to the economic dependence on these activities, the expert said.

Emissions are also accounted for in the health and mining sector all under the industry sector of the economy.

According to Svinurai, the industry emits 3,03 percent of methane gas 40.08 percent less than the agriculture sector.