Several
farmers
told
CITE
that
many
cows
fail
to
return
to
heat
in
time
after
giving
birth,
a
condition
known
as
postpartum
anestrus,
making
it
difficult
to
maintain
regular
breeding
cycles.
Mthokozisi
Ndlovu,
a
communal
farmer
in
the
area,
said
the
period
after
calving
is
proving
critical
and
costly.
“If
a
cow
does
not
recover
properly
after
calving,
we
can
lose
a
whole
year
of
breeding,”
he
said.
“Last
year,
I
lost
three
of
my
best
cows
because
their
body
condition
was
poor
and
they
could
not
breed
again.”
He
said
farmers
are
now
taking
preventative
measures
ahead
of
the
next
calving
season,
including
supplementary
feeding,
improving
grazing
areas
and
monitoring
individual
animals.
“Every
farmer
here
is
worried,
because
cattle
are
our
livelihood,”
Ndlovu
said.
“Losing
them
means
losing
our
future
and
food
security.”
Another
farmer,
Lethabo
Ncube,
said
younger
cows
face
even
greater
risks
because
their
bodies
are
still
developing
while
they
are
nursing
calves.
“First-calf
heifers
especially
need
more
care
to
make
sure
they
return
to
heat
on
time,”
she
said.
“Last
year,
I
lost
two
young
cows
that
failed
to
breed
again,
and
it
affected
my
whole
plan.”
Ncube
said
farmers
are
now
improving
feeding
before
and
after
calving,
monitoring
body
condition
scores
and,
in
some
cases,
temporarily
separating
calves
to
stimulate
breeding.
“If
we
do
not
do
these
things
properly,
we
risk
losing
even
more
cattle,”
she
warned.
Thulani
Dube,
another
farmer
in
Matobo,
said
losses
are
often
linked
to
poor
planning
during
the
postpartum
period
rather
than
feeding
alone.
“It
is
not
just
about
feeding
cows
it
is
also
about
managing
timing
and
stimulation
for
them
to
breed
again,”
he
said.
He
noted
that
while
bulls
or
teaser
bulls
can
help
stimulate
heat,
many
farmers
cannot
afford
extra
animals.
“Last
year,
several
of
my
neighbours
lost
cows
because
nutrition
and
breeding
plans
were
not
followed,”
Dube
said.
“This
year,
I
am
monitoring
body
condition
carefully
and
using
temporary
weaning
when
necessary.
We
are
worried,
but
we
are
trying
everything
to
avoid
more
losses.”
Animal
specialist
Nqobani
Manyabi
of
EL
Ganado
Consultancy
said
the
period
after
calving
is
one
of
the
most
critical
stages
in
beef
production.
“Beef
cows
have
only
about
80
to
85
days
after
calving
to
return
to
estrus
if
they
are
to
maintain
a
yearly
calving
interval,”
he
said.
“Failure
to
manage
this
postpartum
interval
is
one
of
the
major
causes
of
reproductive
loss,
especially
in
young
cows.”
He
explained
that
after
calving,
cows
undergo
uterine
involution,
the
process
by
which
the
uterus
returns
to
its
normal
state,
which
typically
takes
between
20
and
40
days
if
no
complications
occur.
“Research
shows
that
body
condition
at
calving
has
the
greatest
impact
on
re-breeding
performance,”
Manyabi
said.
He
said
mature
cows
should
ideally
reach
a
body
condition
score
(BCS)
of
5
to
5.5
on
a
nine-point
scale
by
breeding
time,
while
first-calf
heifers
should
reach
5.5
to
6.
“Farmers
should
have
a
nutritional
plan
for
each
class
of
animal,”
he
said,
adding
that
improving
nutrition
in
the
final
trimester
before
calving
can
significantly
boost
reproductive
performance.
Manyabi
also
said
suckling
suppresses
hormone
secretion
needed
for
cows
to
return
to
heat.
“Temporary
weaning
of
calves
for
five
to
seven
days,
around
40
days
after
birth,
can
stimulate
oestrous
and
conception,”
he
said.
“Introducing
bulls
or
teaser
bulls
can
also
help.”