The livestock sub sector contributes about 19% to the agricultural GDP. In Zimbabwe Livestock production, productivity of smallholder cattle herds remains very low, with average calving rates of about 45% against a potential of 60%, and offtake rates of about 6% against a recommended 20% annually. The survey also showed that small scale farmers and communal farmers have a combined share of 90% of the total national cattle herd. However, the low slaughter rate of 5% per year is attributed to communal farmers who keep cattle as a store of wealth and not a business enterprise. According to Prof Mugano, with this low slaughter level, it means that income is not circulating in the rural areas and poverty levels are anticipated to remain high. “This practise, if not reversed, will hinder the country’s progress towards attaining Vision 2030 considering the fact that 70% of the Zimbabwean population resides in rural areas”. A mindset shift is a must. Good progress has however been observed in dairy production, and although the current output is still below the annual national demand of 120 million litres, the country has progressively reduced milk imports by 70%.