Climate-smart genetics: How to choose the right cattle breed

Climate-smart genetics: How to choose the right cattle breed

From Farmer's Inside Track by Food For Mzansi

June 4, 2026 · 20 min

About this episode

Ndumiso Gule discusses the importance of climate-smart genetics and breed selection in livestock farming for sustainability and resilience against extreme weather.

True sustainability in livestock farming begins with selecting animals that can thrive in their specific environment. Ndumiso Gule joins us to discuss the vital role of climate-smart genetics and breed selection as a primary defense against extreme weather conditions. Gule is the director of Gule Agri Consulting and works closely with the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO) to deliver essential farmer training sessions and information days across the country. In this episode, he highlights why matching cattle genetics to geographic realities is crucial for low-input farming. Gule explains why indigenous breeds, such as Nguni and Afrikaner cattle, remain uniquely equipped to withstand Africa’s harsh, tropical conditions and continue to anchor the modern beef industry.

People in this episode

Guest: Ndumiso Gule

Topics covered

  • climate-smart genetics
  • cattle breed selection
  • sustainability in livestock farming
  • indigenous breeds
  • extreme weather conditions

Keywords

  • livestock farming
  • cattle genetics
  • breed selection
  • sustainability
  • indigenous breeds

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gule Agri Consulting, Red Meat Producers' Organisation

Places: Africa, Nguni, Afrikaner

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