VALUE CHAIN PERSPECTIVE:
GAME MEAT PRODUCTION
Adri Kitshoff-Botha
on behalf of Dr Peter Oberem
WRSA (Wildlife Ranching South Africa)
THE NEED
The world population is predicted to reach 9 billion by
2050.
Need to double food (esp. protein)
production in the next 32 years
Not possible in Europe/N. America
- All suitable agricultural space
occupied
- Already employ the most modern
technologies
Africa has space and room to improve the
utilization of modern technologies
0
2
4
6
8
10
18001850
19001950
20002050
World Population Growth
Industrialised Regions Developing Regions
AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
-Low and erratic rainfall (<1/2 world average)
- Comparatively shallow and poor soils
- High evaporation
Hence: difficult to compete using conventional
agriculture such as
Domestic livestock production
Crop production
SOLUTION #1: CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE
Improved technologies
- Nutritional
- Access to veterinary medicines
Primary Animal Health Care (PAHC)
- 90% of beef reaching the shelves is from the
7m commercially farmed cattle
- 10% is from the 7m cattle owned by small-
scale owners mainly in the communal areas
Communal Commercial
SOLUTION #2 : WILDLIFE RANCHING
Game animals utilize more of the sun’s energy by
grazing and browsing all available vegetation cf.
livestock
Better for the environment, (overgrazing and bush
encroachment)
Generally better adapted over centuries to parasites
and parasite-borne diseases, e.g. heartwater; redwater.
Generally better adapted to toxic plants that are
deadly for domestic stock, e.g. Gifblaar; Gousiekte…
SOLUTION #2 : WILDLIFE RANCHING (CONT)
Various estimates of 6 – 20 million game animals;
::: 10million
Conservative reproductive rate on ranches: 40% pa
::: 10 million @ 40%= 4 million animals available annually
Average carcass weight = 100kg (wildebeest)
::: 4m @ 100kg = 400 000 000 kg / 400 000 tons available annually
(cf. 175 000 tons of beef produced annually)
200 000 tons of “meat” @ an average of R75/kg = R15 billion income annually.
SOLUTION #2: WILDLIFE RANCHING
BREEDING
• Reaching maturity as a market
• Likely to resemble structure of stud breeding of livestock
HUNTING
• South African hunting:
• International hunters species fees:
TOURISM
• Cherry on top of the primary product
PRODUCTS
• Game Meat: South African: R3.9b. Intrntl R1.38b
• Curio, petfood, jewellery, etc.
GAME RANCHING: DIVERSITY = SUSTAINABILITY
SOLUTION #2: WILDLIFE RANCHING (GAME MEAT)
Game meat is DIFFERENT,
Globally scarce – a delicacy which can command a
higher price.
Healthy
- Protein content higher
- Fat content lower
- Iron and other beneficial vitamins and omega
fats higher
- pH lower giving better shelf-life
Huge demand internationally.
CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN MODEL
92% OF FOOD PRODUCED BY 30,000 FARMERS FOR 55millionCONSUMERS
PROPOSED (GAMPO) SUPPLY CHAIN
OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE ENTERPRISES AND ENTREPRENEURS
IN CLOSING
WILDLIFE RANCHING as industry became mature in sense of
supply/demand
(Stud breeding will continue at a lower level more akin to what is seen with other
domestic livestock)
Game meat production, harvesting and processing is set to grow dramatically
huge opportunity to unlock socio economic opportunities
- urgent need for finalisation of game meat regulations
(last comments submitted 1yr ago – 9 years pending!)
THANK YOU
www.wrsa.co.za