Breeding the Nguni indigenous catlle is a
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development (GDARD) and the University of Pretoria (UP) signed an agreement to
enter into partnership in 2012. The aim for this partnership was to promote/develop the
breeding and production projects with focus on Nguni cattle by black farmers in Gauteng
Province. A trust known as “the Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Development Trust” was
registered in August 2013 to act as an implementing agent for the Nguni cattle project in the
Province
The project involves the loaning of 30 pregnant Nguni heifers and 1 Nguni bull to interested
and qualifying farmers in the province. Beneficiaries of this project should be able to return
the off-springs (same number, breed or rand equivalent of the loaned cattle) within a period
of 5 years.
Project Objectives
The overall objective of the the project is to re-introduce the Nguni Breed into the black
farming communities in Gauteng, with the long term objective of developing an international
niche market for producing Nguni cattle products by these communities.
Primary Objectives
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The main objective of the Project is to build nucleus herd of superior genetic quality with
the purpose of transferring these qualities to the provincial herd;
Promote the conservation and use of Nguni breed (conserve through utilization)
Support livestock farmers in establishing a resilient herd for economic and environmental
sustainability;
Establish successful Nguni stud cattle breeders in Gauteng Province; and
To empower farmers through the deployment of modern technologies which contribute
towards better herd health and husbandry management.
Secondary objectives
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The establishment of a niche and recognised “Nguni beef market”;
The promotion of sustainable and holistic grazing systems in compliance with long-term
grazing capacities, to provide for livestock during critical dry periods and periods of
drought;
The development of skills and capacities necessary to establish a generation of future
black commercial farmers; and
Affirmative steps to eradicate bovine reproductive diseases within the targeted areas.
Compiled by: Sipho Mosegedi
Gauteng IDC Nguni Cattle Project Manager