What Does the Future Hold for the South Africa Beef Industry?

In recent years, there has been tremendous growth in the production and consumption of various types of quality beef products and recipes through technologies such as genomics. But beef farming in South Africa has yet to pick up these practices, which lead to a bleak future for the beef industry in South Africa.

In this blog, let us look into what the future holds for the beef industry in South Africa:

• Industry Pressure

The pressure on the beef industry in South Africa is escalating to new heights due to increased production costs, livestock diseases, food safety legislation and losses caused by droughts. These pressing issues have affected the beef farming supply and profitability, causing the international beef prices to remain buoyant. 

Similarly, external factors such as the unpredictable political environment, transport and mining sectors, labour unrest, and the decrease in local foreign investment have all pressured beef farming in South Africa.

• Herd Unchanged

The beef herd has declined or remained stagnant in South Africa. External factors like intermittent droughts have forced the farmers to reduce the herd numbers, leading to loss, looking at the overall scenario.

Similarly, annual per capita beef consumption in South Africa has decreased over the overs due to the diversification of other meat types like pork, mutton and many more, which has become a great challenge and strong competitor to the beef industry.

Similarly, with the increase in the per capita income of the people, the choice of beef quality and beef recipes remains the same for the common people. They still prefer the cheap quality and local dishes, which need to help generate more revenue to rub the cattle herd in the long run.

• Priorities

With the change in the current tastes and preferences of customers, the beef industry highly prioritizes maximum production at the expense of sustainability, quality beef, environment and animal welfare. The beef farmers are facing pressures from consumers to take on advanced practices and products like other meat types, leading to a downfall of traditional beef dishes and products.

• Marketing

Marketing has become an essential part of every business venture. The consumers demand awareness of the ethics and sustainable methods the beef farmers are taking up to produce beef products in the market. The marketing concept in South Africa still needs to be more specific, which is detrimental to beef farming in South Africa.

As you know, branding a product ensures trust and attracts potential customers to your shop to purchase. The beef industry should take up this practice of promoting the versatility and good qualities of beef to increase its market share among consumers.

In Summary

The beef industry of South Africa should go with the current market trend for it to survive. Quality beef dishes, as well as the proper branding of beef production, should be done to revitalize the beef industry in South Africa.