The hardy Nkone

Zimbabwe's quintessential Nkone cattle breed is back from the brink of extinction, says Annelie Coleman. She spoke to George Hulme, a Nkone farmer and breeding society vice-chairperson, who jointly runs the Pungeni stud near Harare.

- Annelie Coleman

Zimbabwe is home to three indigenous cattle breeds, namely the Nkone, Tuli and Mashona, each having traits that have been refined over the ages to flourish in the African environment. Zimbabwe’s indigenous breeds have over decades evolved into efficient beef producers, and the Nkone particularly so.

“Although Nkone numbers and breeders declined dramatically during the past few decades to a low that was considered close to extinction, numbers are again increasing in Zimbabwe. The decline is ascribed mainly to land reform and commercial farmers losing their land,” says George Hulme, a Nkone breeder and chairperson of the Nkone Cattle Breeders’ Society of Zimbabwe, who jointly runs his Pungeni stud with Mark Hook’s HHN stud west of Harare. Hook is chairperson of the society.

Hulme ascribes the growth in numbers to ongoing efforts by Zimbabwean Nkone breeders to promote this unique breed and to create awareness of the Nkone as an extremely valuable indigenous cattle breed that has an important part to play in future cattle production in the country. The Nkone, which has become adapted to harsh conditions over thousands of years, is ideally suited to the marginal areas of the country because of its built-in capacity to survive and produce under the toughest of conditions.

The medium-sized breed is known for early maturity, outstanding fertility and remarkable longevity, among a multitude of other positive traits.

KING MZILIKAZI