Demand for breeding ewes and rams continues to rise, with shortages already emerging.

Dorper sheep breeding in Zimbabwe is experiencing renewed growth, with rising demand, strong auction prices and expanding breeder participation signalling a positive turnaround for the sector.

This upward trajectory was highlighted by the first-ever Dorper sale held in Matabeleland on 28 November 2025 in Bulawayo - a landmark event for the country’s small-stock industry.

Zimbabwe Dorper Sheep Breeders Association chairperson William Hundermark told that Matabeleland had never previously hosted a Dorper sale. He explained that Zimbabwe’s stud breeding industry, including the Dorper breed, suffered heavily during the land redistribution programme, which led to the emigration of many established breeders. The situation was further compounded by recurring foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, which restricted livestock movement and prevented large-scale auctions.

Hundermark described the Bulawayo auction as a major breakthrough, noting that it exceeded expectations. “The top registered Type 5 ram sold for US$2 000 (around R33 864), and several others sold in the range of US$1 800 to US$1 850 (R30 476 to R31 322). Many rams achieved US$1 500 to US$1 550 (R25 397 to R26 244), and even the Type 4 unregistered rams made between US$1 000 and US$1 500 (R16 932 to R25 397). The Type 3 rams ranged from US$600 to just over US$1 000 (R10 159 to R16 932,” he said. “For a sale with no prior track record in the region, these prices were phenomenal.”

Providing further context, Hundermark referenced the Zimbabwe Herd Book National Breed Sale held in July 2025, where a Dorper ram from his Northern Dorper Stud fetched a record US$4 300 (R72 808). Average ram prices stood at US$2 700 (R45 716), while ewes sold between $550 and $600, with a top price of US$700. “What this tells us is that across Zimbabwe, demand for quality Dorper genetics is climbing sharply. Farmers are seeing the value in small-stock, and Dorpers keep proving themselves year after year,” he said.

Demand for breeding ewes and rams continues to rise, with shortages already emerging. The association now has nearly 80 members, compared to just six in 1958, reflecting the breed’s growing national footprint.

Veteran breeder Rose van de Ruit, who began with 20 sheep in 1998 and now manages a flock exceeding 400, emphasised the importance of genetics and management.
“Over the years, I have learnt the importance of selective mating and the role genetics plays in the breeding of good animals,” De Ruit said.

Despite persistent challenges such as high feed costs, vaccine shortages, limited access to land and finance, Hundermark remains optimistic. “Overall, these challenges are real, but they can be solved with coordinated planning, industry unity, and supportive national policy,” Hundermark concluded.

Nigeria and Botswana collaborates to modernise livestock sector. (Image credit: Federal Ministry of Livestock Development)

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing evidence-based policies aimed at modernising the country’s livestock sector, positioning it as a major driver of economic growth.

This was emphasised by the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, during a courtesy visit from Her Excellency Philda Nani Kereng, High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to Nigeria, on Friday, 12th December 2025, at the Ministry in Abuja.

Minister Maiha highlighted the need for Nigeria to move beyond outdated livestock systems and adopt structured reforms that boost productivity, encourage value addition, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers and other stakeholders along the livestock value chain.

“The Botswana experience is a major inspiration. Your nation has achieved in 50 years what the world continues to study, and we are interested in domesticating many of those lessons,” he said.

He added, “Nigeria, as the largest market in Africa, is ready to expand its livestock sector to compete globally, while also partnering with Botswana to accelerate the journey,” noting Botswana’s notable achievements in beef exports to Europe, transboundary disease management, and the integration of technology in livestock traceability.

Minister Maiha also stressed Nigeria’s readiness to learn from Botswana’s model as the Ministry embarks on a plan to rehabilitate and modernise 417 grazing reserves across the country into structured ranching ecosystems.

In response, High Commissioner Kereng highlighted Botswana’s five-decade success in beef production and export to Europe, attributing it to deliberate policies, strong governance, and extensive support systems for farmers. She explained that Botswana’s livestock sector evolved from a rural development model focused on agriculture, supported by legislation and policies enabling farmers to produce high-quality cattle for both livelihood improvement and national economic growth.

Her Excellency further noted that Botswana’s beef sector, second only to diamonds in national revenue, thrives on strict disease-control measures, communal land management, targeted veterinary interventions, and highly subsidised farmer support programmes.

She outlined areas for potential collaboration with Nigeria, including beef quality improvement through enhanced genetics, modern abattoir practices, disease management, veterinary protocols, vaccine production, livestock traceability, and grazing management, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing sustainable and competitive livestock development.

Nigeria aims to lead West Africa towards a more secure and resilient livestock future.(Image credit: AgroNigeria)

Nigeria has once again reaffirmed its pivotal role in safeguarding West Africa’s livestock sector, strengthening regional cooperation in the fight against transboundary animal diseases that continue to threaten food security and rural livelihoods across the sub-region.

At the opening of the Regional Training on Strengthening Capacities for PPR and Other Transboundary Animal Diseases held in Abuja, the Federal Government emphasised that collaborative action is essential to accelerate livestock transformation and protect millions of households dependent on the sector.

Addressing participants, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, highlighted the nation’s strong commitment to advancing the Pan-African PPR Eradication Programme and strengthening Africa’s collective resilience. According to her, Nigeria is implementing extensive upgrades to its animal health surveillance systems to better detect, monitor, and prevent cross-border disease spread.

Dr. Akujobi noted that the Federal Government is deepening surveillance mechanisms by enhancing the National Animal Disease Information System, fostering stronger laboratory–field coordination under the One Health approach, and expanding partnerships with ECOWAS-RAHC, AU-IBAR, FAO, and WOAH to ensure that national animal health initiatives align with broader regional and continental strategies. These efforts reflect Nigeria’s leadership in harmonising disease control frameworks across West Africa.

She further explained that Nigeria’s decision to host the regional training demonstrates its readiness to support neighbouring countries in capacity building, technical cooperation, and coordinated surveillance. According to her, disease outbreaks in rural communities go beyond animal losses—they weaken resilience, disrupt local economies, and slow down agricultural advancement. She stressed that the continent must shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive, data-driven surveillance systems if Africa is to meet the global PPR eradication target by 2030.

Highlighting ongoing challenges, Dr. Akujobi pointed out that the region continues to face a range of transboundary and zoonotic threats including Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, Anthrax, and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. These diseases, she said, collectively undermine food systems, livestock productivity, and household incomes. She called for stronger collaboration among veterinarians, epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, border authorities, wildlife regulators, and pastoral communities, noting that each stakeholder plays a critical role in prevention and control.

In his address, the FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Tofeek Braimah, emphasised the severe socio-economic impact of PPR, describing it as one of the most destructive viral diseases affecting sheep and goats. He reiterated that although the 2030 eradication goal is ambitious, it remains achievable through sustained political commitment, strong partnerships, and synchronised regional action. Dr. Braimah reaffirmed FAO’s unwavering support to member states and regional institutions in their animal health efforts.

Through enhanced cooperation, innovative surveillance, and strengthened regional coordination, Nigeria aims to lead West Africa towards a more secure and resilient livestock future.

Fisheries Development Surges Under PROFISHBLUE.

A major African Development Bank Group–funded programme is transforming fisheries management and boosting regional trade, improving the lives of nearly three million people across Southern Africa.

The Program for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors (PROFISHBLUE) has revitalised aquatic resource management and expanded cross-border fish commerce, with trade volumes now exceeding 500,000 tonnes over the past four years. This progress is driving job creation, strengthening food security, and enhancing climate resilience across 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations.

Backed by a $9.2 million ADF 15 grant, the initiative has delivered training, equipment, and technical support to more than 250,000 beneficiaries across seven African Development Fund countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Capacity-building programmes have covered a wide range of areas, including fish value chain development, post-harvest utilisation, SME growth, genetic improvement of indigenous tilapia species, policy harmonisation, and nutrition-focused fish product development. Support has also extended to fish stock assessments in shared water bodies, vessel monitoring systems, and improved collection of catch statistics.

During World Fisheries Day on 21 November, SADC, the African Development Bank Group, and partner organisations gathered in Gaborone to highlight the programme’s achievements since its 2022 launch. The celebration showcased tangible improvements in regional fish value chains and stronger consumer markets linked to enhanced governance and blue economy investment.

Domingos Gove,Director speaking for SADC Deputy Secretary for Regional Integration Angele Makombo Ntumba, said: "We are indebted to the African Development Bank Group for providing funding to implement this project within the Blue Economy space. This support has demonstrated our capacity to improve aquatic food systems for the benefit of over 380 million people in the region."

 Neeraj Vij,The African Development Bank’s Regional Sector Manager for Feed Africa Operations for Southern Africa,added: "The PROFISHBLUE project has shown best practices in regional integration of blue economy trade corridors and cross-border fish trade… This project demonstrates how strategic investment in fisheries governance can create competitive value chains that provide jobs and livelihoods while eradicating extreme poverty, especially in rural areas."

Key partners including FAO, UNIDO, WWF, WorldFish and ARSO have contributed crucial expertise. Regional leaders praised the programme’s role in providing a platform for shared learning, with testimonials from women in fisheries underscoring its inclusivity. One participant from Tanzania reflected: "We embarked on an investment journey that few smallholder entrepreneurs would consider piloting technology in seaweed farming. We appreciate the opportunity..."