Farmer Tests Game Export Market

This article explored the economic viability of game farming as a separate concern.

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Many farmers in South Africa keep wild game on their properties for varying reasons, but to what extent can game farming be included as an integral part of a farming system? In other words, what are the chances of game farming as an economic enterprise in its own right?

Mr TI Ferreira of De Kloof, Cradock, well-known breeder of medium strong-wool Merino rams who also produces about 60 000 bales of lucerne annually, started game farming purely out of love for wild animals. Today he has reached a stage where, if nothing unforeseen happens in the near future, game farming will be the most economic and profitable of all the various enterprises on De Kloof.

At present, about 427ha are used exclusively for game farming on De Kloof. Permanent water points have been supplied and the veld and animals are in a good condition. Buffalo, gemsbok, blesbok, springbok, impala, red rhebok, duiker, steenbok, grysbok and klipspringer are kept, while in the near future eland will also be introduced.