Green livestock production technologies entails farming systems that promote and increase the adoption of climate-smart innovations in livestock-based production systems. Climate-smart livestock production practices such as fodder production and conservation, quality improvement of crop residues and proper conservation, water harvesting, veld and rangeland reinforcement with browse and forage legumes, use of medicinal and pesticidal plants in disease and pest control and efficient manure management.  Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through feeding dietary additives and other plant secondary metabolites such as sapponins, tannins and oils are part of the climate smart technologies used in dairies and feedlot operations. All livestock farming practices that enhance livestock productivity whilst supporting the regenerative capacity of the environment are key for sustainable cattle production systems. These interventions will support activities that will bring an improved economic, social and environmental performance and thus creating an enabling environment for sustainable and inclusive beef value chains in Zimbabwe. Cattle production systems that lower the rate of both environmental degradation and depletion of the ozone layer due to production of greenhouse gases are part of the climate smart innovation technologies which should be promoted and adopted for food security, poverty alleviation and sustainability.

Cattle production is an important part of Agriculture, and it significantly supports the livelihoods of the country’s population. Cattle provides income and employment to farmers, agricultural service providers and others involved in the value chain. According to Bennett et al., (2019), cattle farming is a potential foreign exchange earner with multiple linkages along the value chain and is a vital source of income for many Zimbabweans.  Even though estimates vary widely, livestock is thought to contribute 19% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product (GDP), 35–40% of agricultural GDP (GoZ, 2018) and 40–86% of the household incomes (LMAC, 2017; Food and Nutrition Council, 2019). Livestock has multiple uses apart from draught power, including cash storage for those beyond the reach of the banking system, income generation, manure for fuel and fertilizer, and other cultural services such as lobola (dowry). Livestock is of economic and social importance both at the household and national levels. Zimbabwe’s livestock production system is characterized by small-scale subsistence farming.  Despite the importance of livestock to rural livelihoods, productivity remains low and unsustainable methods are still being used. This is mostly associated with farmer behaviour, poor quality of animal breeds, feed quality and quantity deficit during the dry season and its cost, parasites and diseases, and erratic and low rainfall distribution in most areas of the country.