The Beefmaster Group, based near Christiana in North West, is involved in the entire beef value chain: breeding, feedlot, abattoir, and distribution (including exports) of beef products. According to supply-chain executive Roelie van Reenen, the company employs over 1 000 permanent staff at its various operations.
“The abattoir is the largest employer within our group and is also the biggest private employer in Kimberley [an hour from Christiana],” he explains.
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
The Van Reenen family has been involved in the beef industry since Jacob van Reenen arrived in the Cape of Good Hope in 1722 and started supplying beef to ships docking there.
Nearly two-and-a-half centuries later, in 1965, Van Reenen’s father, Lourie, set up a small, on-farm feeding system for his own cattle. In 1983, he decided to establish a full-scale feedlot and bought the farm Kromellenboog near Christiana for this purpose.
“He chose this location because he wanted to establish a feedlot near a secure water source, the Vaal River, and it had to be near a main road and a railway, which was critical for the transport of cattle and feed,” explains Van Reenen.
It was only after deregulation of the meat industry in the 1990s that the group had the opportunity to buy an abattoir and venture into this part of the beef value chain.
“We weren’t allowed to own an abattoir. In those days, livestock had to be slaughtered at parastatal facilities and this one, the old Abakor facility in Kimberley, was one of them,” he says.
Beefmaster purchased Abakor in 2001, and officially opened it as the Beefmaster Group’s abattoir and processing facility in the same year. The first Beefmaster retail outlet was opened four years later, and the company currently has a factory shop at the abattoir as well as several retail outlets in Gauteng.
Esta historia es de la edición December 13, 2019 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 13, 2019 de Farmer's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
