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Yoliswa Dube, Features Reporter
THE annual Bulawayo Agricultural Show which ran concurrently with the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair attracted 67 herd to the fatstock show with this year’s turnover coming to $66,000.

Judged by Zeph Dhlamini, the show sale saw seven buyers comprising local abattoirs and butcheries purchasing the show steers for an average price of $986.

Celebrating their 105th anniversary, CC Sales, the official auctioneers to the Bulawayo Agricultural Society, said the price represented an average of $2,13 per kg live weight throughout the sale.

The champion steer, weighing 525kg (milk tooth), exhibited and won by Marcedale Farm, was sold to Heads & Hooves Butcheries for $1,275 at $2,43 per kg live weight.

Heads & Hooves Butchery was the biggest volume buyer and purchased 28 steers which included the Champion pen of 10 and the Champion pen of three.

The reserve champion steer, exhibited and bred by Kevin Rae of Azondo Farms, was purchased by Bulawayo Abattoirs for $1,240.
Marcedale Farm won the best overall of this year’s show.

CC Sales donated $2,641 of the sale proceeds to the Bulawayo Agricultural Society while the auctioneer was Richard Wakefield.

The show sale continues to attract a large following comprising business people, farmers and members of the public.

Fatstock judging is done based on a weight to age ratio. Judges look for the youngest possible animal at the highest weight with 15 months to two years being a good age.

In the judging of pens, like a pen of two for example, the cattle have to be almost identical to win in their various classes.

The Bulawayo Agricultural Society was set up to promote agricultural shows as a teaching and learning platform for all.

It showcases all forms of livestock including cattle, sheep and goats, pigs, poultry and horse, crop produce such as maize, small grains and cereals as well as fruit and vegetables for the communal farmer.

Home industries incorporating needlework, knitting, crochet, cookery, icing, brewing, home-craft and artwork as well as school projects such as cookery, needlework and home craft for juniors are also included.

The agricultural show is an opportunity for farmers to interact and learn from each other.

Zimbabwe has a well-developed and diversified agricultural sector, producing food crops, cash crops, and livestock.

The government has boosted the agricultural sector by providing electricity in some rural areas through the Rural Electrification Programme and provision of free seed, fertiliser and implements.

This has gone a long way in empowering farmers.