Opportunities and Challenges in Use of Imported Livestock than Utilization of Local Animal Genetic Resources in Zimbabwe: a Review

Abstract

This is a review paper that looks at opportunities and challenges of using imported livestock than utilization of local genetic resources such as cattle, sheep, goats, pig and poultry in Zimbabwe. Considerable debate on the exploitation of imported livestock than utilization of local genetic resources on livestock development has been going on since the last decades. The systems of livestock production are described and the roles of exotic and indigenous livestock are highlighted. The reports on livestock utilization tend to favor the use of exotic livestock for commercial production. However, it emerges that farmers acknowledge the wide differences in performance between exotic and indigenous livestock which should take into account the farming environment and level of management. The adverse environmental stresses may limit productivity in exotic livestock. The review paper therefore, concludes that exploitation of indigenous livestock must be related to define production and marketing environments, but also any genetic improvement should allow for likely future market demands.