Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Livestock farmers are calling for urgent policy interventions to abolish the controversial “fifth quarter” system, where abattoirs take offals, hides, heads, and hooves for free depriving them of potential income.
In an interview with New Ziana , Livestock Farmers Union chairperson Sifiso Sibanda said an end to such practice would significantly improve the viability of livestock farming, especially as the sector struggles to recover from last year devastating El-Nino-induced drought.
The drought was one worst in decades, with Matabeleland the hardest-hit region. Nationally, 44,766 cattle deaths were reported, leaving many farmers in financial distress. Without policy changes, Sibanda warned, producers will remain at the mercy of exploitative middlemen.
“We need the government to intervene and remove the process where abattoirs take offals, hides, heads, and hooves for free under the fifth quarter. “This should be retained by farmers because it has value. Abattoirs sell these parts, they don’t give them away for free. There’s no justification for this practice,” Sibanda said.
He also criticized the current livestock pricing system, where buyers arbitrarily tag prices without proper evaluation. “You can’t just look at an animal and slap a price on it. ”
We need a grading system—super, choice, and economy grades—and animals must be weighed so farmers know their exact worth before selling.” Sibanda implored the government to introduce standardized mark-ups per grade.
“Once we have clear grades and pricing, farmers can enter the market knowing what to expect. Without these fundamentals, the livestock economy will not grow,” he said.
Another major concern, Sibanda noted, is the dominance of middlemen who control auctions, abattoirs, and butcheries allowing them to suppress prices. “It’s unfair when the auctioneer is also the abattoir operator.
They make huge profits while farmers earn peanuts. This system is impoverishing producers,” he said.
Sibanda also emphasized that the proposed policy changes were crucial for farmer viability. “If livestock farming remains unviable, the purpose of land redistribution is defeated. Government intervention can reshape the sector so farmers truly benefit. ”
Currently leather processors and butchers profit more than the farmers themselves which is a skewed setup that must change. “We’re grateful the government is listening. With the right policies, we can revitalize this sector and secure farmers’ livelihoods,” Sibanda said.
The government’s Livestock Growth Plan (LGP) aims to develop a $2 billion livestock sector by year-end. Farmers hope these proposed reforms will be integrated to ensure fairness and sustainability.
New Ziana
