Mandela-Washington fellow sets sight on revolutionising cattle breeding with smart technology
SHAMISO Masuka(SM),a Mandela-Washington fellow and founder of Kraal-Gen Analytics is rethinking how Zimbabwean livestock breeders can boost the quality of their cattle herd through innovative technology called Genomics.Her firm has entered into a partnership with American based AgBoost under a pilot project exploring the efficacy of the technology in Zimbabwe.Masuka spoke to our deputy news editor Tinashe Kairiza (TK) on how Zimbabwe can tap into this technology that is already in use in some of world’s leading cattle breeding countries like the US.Below are excerpts of the interview.
TK: Your firm, Kraal-Gen Analytics, held the Zimbabwe Genomics Pilot Insight
Session. How important is genomics in boosting livestock productivity?
SM:Genomics is one of the most powerful tools available for improving livestock productivity because it strengthens the quality of breeding decisions. Instead of relying on an animal's appearance or pedigree alone, genomics provides objective information about the traits an animal is likely to pass on to its offspring.
For Zimbabwean cattle producers, this means promising breeding animals can be identified earlier and selected for the traits that matter most in their production systems, such as fertility, growth, calving ease and feed efficiency. Over time, these decisions compound into more productive herds. They also build resilience as producers contend with drought and rising input costs, cattle with the right genetic potential become increasingly valuable.
A DNA test on its own, however, does not improve a herd. Its value lies entirely in how the information is used, which is why our work is focused on converting complex genetic results into insights that producers can act on with confidence.
Internationally, countries that have applied genetic information consistently within their breeding programmes have recorded substantial productivity gains. Zimbabwe now has an opportunity to apply the same principles in a manner suited to our own production systems and breeding objectives.
- Mandela-Washington fellow sets sight on revolutionising cattle breeding with smart technology
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TK:When was your company formed? What are the desired outcomes of the pilot project it is running?
SM:Kraal-Gen Analytics was established in 2025 to help livestock producers turn farm data into better decisions, whether that data comes from DNA tests, performance records, breeding records or everyday herd management.
The pilot was designed to show how the AgBoost platform can transform large volumes of livestock data into information that producers can use immediately. Many producers have spent years recording birth dates, calving records, weights, breeding history and animal performance.
Those records hold considerable value, but analysing several seasons' worth of them manuallyis slow and difficult. The pilot demonstrated how that information can be consolidated, analysed within minutes and presented in a format that is straightforward to interpret. Where
DNA results exist, they become a further layer of detail; where they do not, the platform remains equally useful to producers working from performance and management records alone.
TK:As part of the project, Kraal-Gen Analytics is collaborating with AgBoost and United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE). What are the foreign partners bringing into the project?
SM:It is important to clarify that the United States Livestock Genetics Export (USLGE) is not a
partner in the Zimbabwe Genomics Pilot Project. Its representatives were in Southern Africa
on a livestock industry roadshow and, having heard of the work being undertaken by KraalGen Analytics, they attended the Insight Session to understand the initiative and engage with local stakeholders.
Our strategic partner on the pilot is AgBoost, a United States-based livestock technology company. AgBoost provides the digital platform that draws together animal management records and, where available, genetic results. Beyond the technology itself, the partnership enables knowledge exchange between Zimbabwe and the United States. Kraal-Gen Analytics contributes the local expertise and understanding of conditions on the ground, and responsibility for ensuring the technology answers genuine local needs. In essence, the partnership combines global technology with local knowledge.
TK:How much has been invested in rolling out the livestock genomics pilot project?
SM:The pilot has required substantial investment from Kraal-Gen Analytics and its strategic partner, AgBoost, extending well beyond genetic testing to digital infrastructure, international collaboration, logistics and implementation.
That commitment reflects our intention to build a sustainable livestock analytics business in Zimbabwe instead of delivering a once-off project. It has laid the foundation for future expansion and, we believe, will help accelerate the adoption of data-driven decision-making across the sector.
TK:How many local breeders have shown interest in the project? Do they have the financial capacity to adopt genetics analytic tools to improve their cattle herd?
SM:The pilot set clear targets for producer engagement and for event attendance, and both were met. The quality of participation during the session and the discussions that continued afterwards, which pointed to genuine interest in data-driven livestock management. The event brought together commercial breeders, breed societies and industry stakeholders from across Zimbabwe, and the questions raised showed producers actively weighing how technology can support better breeding and herd management.
On affordability, the conversation should not be confined to DNA testing. Our model is built on helping producers make better use of the information they already collect, which means the benefits of analytics can begin well before any investment in genomic testing.
Adoption will, as with any new technology, be progressive. Some producers will move faster than others, but the decisive factor is not the size of the operation or the budget; it is recognising the value of informed decision-making. Once the practical returns become visible in breeding and herd performance, investment in more advanced tools becomes far easier to justify.
TK:What are some of the key challenges faced by cattle breeders, and how do you think the innovation Kraal-Gen Analytics can address the same?
SM:Zmbabwean cattle breeders face several challenges, including rising production costs, climate variability and the need to improve productivity while making the best use of limited resources.
Another common challenge is that many important breeding and management decisions are still based largely on observation or experience, even when valuable herd records already exist.
Many producers collect information over many years. However, analysing that information manually can be time-consuming, making it difficult to identify trends or use the data effectively when making breeding decisions.
This is where Kraal-Gen Analytics adds value. The collaboration with AgBoost addresses these challenges directly by providing a tool that supports objective decision making, allowing producers to move from subjective judgement to evidence, identifying superior animals earlier, reducing genetic risk and accelerating genetic progress.
TK: Which specific areas are you rolling out the project? What measures have you put in place to spread the initiative?
SM:Following the successful completion of the pilot, our focus has shifted to awareness and adoption nationally. We aim to engage more producers across the country who are interested in using data to improve their breeding and management decisions.
Education and stakeholder engagement are central to that approach. Through industry events such as the Insight Session, producer-focused practical demonstrations and engagement with like-minded organisations, we want to show how herd records, performance data and genomic testing work together in practice. The long-term goal is a more productive, competitive and data-driven livestock sector.
TK:Over the years, Zimbabwe's cattle herd has dwindled. How best can Zimbabwe embrace genomics to revive its herd?
SM:Rebuilding the national herd requires more than increasing animal numbers. The priority should be quality, productivity and resilience, achieved through better breeding and better management.
Genomics contributes by identifying animals with strong genetic potential at an earlier stage, but it is most effective alongside sound record keeping, animal health, nutrition and overall herd management. Technology should complement those fundamentals. Making use of the records producers already keep is equally important, and it is often the fastest gain available to them. Realising these benefits at national scale will depend on sustained collaboration between producers, breed societies, government, research institutions and the private sector. Building awareness, strengthening record keeping and encouraging the uptake of practical decisionsupport tools will together create a more competitive livestock industry.
TK: Are there plans in place to roll out the same initiative in the region?
SM:Our current priority is ensuring that Zimbabwean cattle producers are the first to benefit from the knowledge, technology and decision-support tools that Kraal-Gen Analytics is introducing.
As the initiative matures and demonstrates sustained value, opportunities for regional expansion may emerge, and we would consider them on that basis.
TK:How do you forecast the potential of cattle genomics in Zimbabwe?
SM:The future of livestock improvement lies in making better use of data. As awareness grows and more producers see the returns from data-driven decision-making, genomics will take its place within a broader livestock improvement strategy, one that supports a more productive and more competitive cattle industry.
