Santa Gertrudis bulls: tested for two decades

Melville Ferreira, senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Council’s Animal Production unit in Vryburg, and Yolanda Venter, breed manager of the Santa Gertrudis Cattle Breeders’ Society in Bloemfontein, reveal the findings of performance testing of Santa Gertrudis bulls over 20 years under intensive conditions.

- Yolanda Venter

Due to a continuing rise in the human population associated with an increased demand for protein, sustainable beef production is becoming more important to meeting long-term needs. Natural resources are also under pressure and beef producers have to produce the proverbial ‘more from less’.

In South Africa, the livestock sector is also a major role player in the conservation of biodiversity through a variety of well-adapted indigenous and non-indigenous breeds, as well as rare game species. South Africa’s beef industry is challenged by globalisation, increasing volumes and competition, strong industrialisation of the value chain, shortage of skilled staff, and pressures to meet changing customer needs.

Over the past years, the beef supply chain has become vertically integrated. This is where the producer, feedlot, abattoir and wholesaler are linked. There are different value and supply chains. The direct participants who play a role in delivering the product to the market are farmers, feedlots, abattoirs, wholesalers, processors, distributors and retailers. Other participants in the beef value chain include meat processors, and providers of hides and skin, imports and exports, spices, packaging and so on.

The supply chain is also determined by the characteristics of the beef product and is very competitive. The partners and role players in this chain are highly dependent upon each other.

The slaughter, processing and preservation of meat are key components of the meat-industry value chain.

CHANGING DYNAMICS