Securing the future of meat production in SA

A Feedlot Information Day at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's Convention Centre in Pretoria saw industry experts, including farmers, nutritionists and veterinarians, gather to discuss meat production in South Africa. Magda du Toit reports.

- Magda du Toit

In his opening address at the recent Feedlot Information Day, organised by feedlot services company Octavoscene and animal feed and nutrition manufacturers Chemuniqué, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) Dewald Olivier emphasised the importance of inclusive industry growth.

Olivier said it was equally important that the meat industry took ownership of its own future if it wanted to become a leader in the sustainable production of quality, traceable meat for a growing world population.

RMIS is a not-for-profit company created by the red meat and primary livestock cluster to collaboratively represent the interests of the primary red meat value chain.

FAST FACTS

The red meat industry needs to take ownership of its own future, according to Dewald Olivier, CEO of the Red Meat Industry Services.

Changes in the industry need to be implemented strategically and based on the four pillars of the industry, one of which is animal health.

Supplementing with zinc can help improve animal health in the feedlot.

“The only way to grow the industry is to grow the entire industry as a collective and inclusively,” he said. He cautioned, however, that these changes should be implemented strategically and based on the four pillars of the industry, namely:

• Animal and public health;
• Inclusive growth;
• Market access; 
• Competitiveness and sustainability.

“If we don’t change the way in which we look at our industry, and if we don’t change the way in which we operate, we (producers, feedlots, abattoirs) will die,” he said.

ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS GAINING GROUND