MWANZA: LIVESTOCK farmers have been urged to use improved breeds because they guarantee high yields that will boost their productivity.
Speaking at the ongoing milk week exhibition in Mwanza, yesterday, Urus Tanzania country Manager Mr Edson Mfuru said the improved breeds have the ability not only to raise yields, but also enhance productivity, profitability and overall sustainability of livestock farming operations.
“Crossbred cattle/improved breeds like Girolando are often bred for specific traits and result into higher milk production, or more meat per animal and they also grow faster and reach market size more quickly, reducing the time and resources needed to raise them,” he said.
According to the country’s Livestock Sector Transformation Plan 2022/23-2026/27, despite the number of achievements that the sector has recorded, the sector continues to face challenges among others the use of indigenous cattle varieties which display low productivity.
He said Urus Tanzania which is part of URUS Global is a prominent organisation specialised in animal genetics, dairy and beef cattle breeding.
The country manager noted that the shift from indigenous cattle varieties to improved breeds will be a great game changer to the livestock keepers and the sector as a whole.
He further noted that the hybrid varieties are often more resistant to common diseases and parasites, reducing the need for medical treatments and associated costs adding that increased resistance leads to lower mortality rates, ensuring a more stable and predictable production output.
“Crossbreeds like Girolando, are typically bred to convert feed into body mass more efficiently, meaning less feed is needed to produce the same amount of meat or milk. Improved feed conversion reduces overall feed costs, which are a significant expense in livestock farming,” he added.
Mr Mfuru admitted that Urus Tanzania is currently supporting livestock keepers across Tanzania with advanced crossbreeding programmes and other agricultural services and with foot prints in Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Tanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya and Kagera regions.
“While our primary presence is in the above-mentioned regions, we are dedicated to reaching livestock keepers wherever they are in Tanzania.
Our goal is to ensure that every livestock keeper in Tanzania, regardless of their location, has access to the best possible support and resources to improve their livestock management practices.
We are continually working to expand our reach and improve our services to meet the needs of all farmers,” he said.
