Livestock
Livestock for sale in Zimbabwe
Cattle, goats, sheep and poultry — breeding stock, weaners and slaughter animals — each listing labelled with the checks done on it.
- National cattle herd
- 5.7m head
- Herd target
- 12mby 2034
- Show entries, 2026
- 634+108%
- FMD confirmed
- Mat South
Foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Matabeleland South in January 2026. Animals leaving control areas need a veterinary movement permit.
Zimbabwe's national cattle herd stands at about 5.7 million head, up about 2% on the year before, and the government's stated aim is 12 million by 2034.1 Cattle are savings, draught power and status as much as a business — which is why so many change hands privately, and why paperwork matters.
Goats and sheep are the smallholder's working capital: they breed fast, browse where cattle cannot and sell easily for cash. Boer goats and Dorper sheep fetch premiums as breeding stock.
Source: NewsDay
Show the numbers
| Measure | Head of cattle |
|---|---|
| National herd now | 5.7 million |
| Target, 2034 | 12 million |
Disease and movement
Foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Matabeleland South in January 2026,2 and outbreaks have spread across southern Africa this year. Animals leaving a control area need a veterinary movement permit, and a buyer who moves stock without one risks losing them at a roadblock — or carrying the disease home.
At the Harare Agricultural Show in August, FMD screening and permit checks at the gate were enough to bring breeders back: livestock entries rose to 634, from 305 in 2025.3
Drought changes the cattle market. Forecasters expect a hotter, drier 2026/27 season.4 In a dry year grazing and water run short, many farmers sell before their animals lose condition, and feed gets dearer. Buyers with grazing and water can find stock; sellers do better selling early, in good condition, than late.
Source: Farmer's Weekly
Show the numbers
| Show | Livestock entries |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 305 |
| 2026 | 634 |
Poultry
Poultry is where most new farmers start: broilers turn over in about six weeks, and layers give a daily cash flow. Buyers should ask for the vaccination record of point-of-lay pullets and day-old chicks, and check where the birds were hatched.
Feed is the biggest cost in poultry, and it follows the maize price. A poor 2026/27 grain harvest would push feed prices up, so price contracts with that in mind.
Before buying any animals, read the guide to buying cattle — most of it applies to goats and sheep too.
On offer now
Each listing carries a label saying how far it has been checked. That is not a warranty — see the animals, crop, machine or land yourself, and confirm ownership and permits before any money moves.
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