Copy
Welcome to the April 2016 issue of the Red Meat Producers Organisation's Newsletter
View this email in your browser

SADC declares state of regional disaster as severe drought grips Southern Africa

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has approved a declaration of the regional drought disaster in acknowledgement of the severe levels of hunger and food insecurity in the region. 
If no action is taken to address the issue, brought on by drought as a result of El Niño, there is fear that the number of people affected in southern Africa will rise to 50 million, up from the current estimate of 28 to 30 million people.  Read more ...

Video’s are very successful

Lamb and Mutton SA, responsible for consumer education on South African lamb and mutton meat has come a long way when it comes to consumer education through videos, and has recently released a new series.

With an existing, first of its kind  and highly successful video series on cooking the “5th quarter” of a lamb (hearts, tongues, tails, lever etc.) and also a step-by-step  series on cutting a lamb carcass in culinary cuts, they have gathered over  50 000 views already.

Traditional home made meals have fallen through the cracks of our modern lifestyles. This brand new series is all about making home style cooking with lamb and mutton meat easy, trendy, new and exciting again. In these short (less than four minutes) clips, The Bearded Chef will show young and old how to get back to the basics of cooking delicious lamb dishes in your own kitchen! 


Interventions requested to ensure food security

Dr Pieter Prinsloo, Vice-chairman of the National Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) represented the Organisation during a session in Parliament where interventions were requested to ensure food security, income security, job security and socio-economic security in the red meat industry to deal with the impact of the drought.  
He said livestock production in South Africa is a fundamental element of socio-economic development and a significant contributor to food security, food sovereignty and income security. Only 70% of agricultural land can be utilised by livestock and game, while livestock contributes to 27% of the consumer’s food basket.  Read more ...


Implementation of regulations is imperative

“The implementation of import regulations for livestock from the neighbouring countries has become imperative,” says Dr Pieter Vervoort, Chairman of the National Animal Health Forum. “The implementing process is now dragging on too long and it will be to the benefit of all role players if it is finalised.”  
South Africa’s national animal health status is not sufficiently protected in terms of the current import regulations. The country is exposed to controlled diseases and zoonosis (diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans). The current regulations are out of line with South African legislation, the guidelines of the International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the so-called terrestrial codes. The controlled diseases which are currently specified in the permit, is the same as those appearing on the OIE’s web site and the same diseases are for example listed in Namibia’s import permits.  Read more ...


Classification system is still relevant

The red meat industry is unanimous in its viewpoint that the current classification system is still relevant. This decision has been taken at the recent workshop where the classification system was evaluated. 
During the past few years the relevance of the current beef and sheep carcass classification system has been questioned by some industry role players. A task team was duly appointed in 2009 to revisit the carcass classification system. The 12th Meat Symposium was held on 7 November 2014 to present and share relevant research findings.  Read more ...


Beef day presented

A cattle day with the theme, "Profitable meat cattle production from the veld", will be presented on 19 April 2016 on the farm of the National Beef Farmer of the Year, Kleinjan Gasekoma at Bruitjiesfontein near Reivilo. 

One of the aims of the National Beef Farmer of the Year competition is to present management practices of successful cattle farmers to other farmers at a farmers’ day in a practical way. In this way, interested people will have the opportunity to gain knowledge from the farmer of the year as well as from other specialists that will focus on enhancing the productivity and profitability of stock farming.

For more information, contact Cois Harman: 083 265 6210 or coisharman@gmail.com or Gawie Coetzer: 082 774 3874 or gawiec@vodamail.co.za


List of diseases released

The Director-general of Animal Health released a list of controlled and notifiable diseases in terms of the Animal Diseases Act. 
The following controllable diseases are listed in terms of sheep, cattle and pigs:  any animal disease or infectious agent that is not known to occur in South Africa; African Swine Fever (AFS); Anthrax; Aujeszky’s Disease; contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP); Bruccelosis; bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Classical swine fever (CSF);  Corridor or Buffalo disease;  East Coast fever; Foot and mouth disease (FMD); Johne’s disease; Nagana (Trypanosomiasis); Newcastle disease; Avian influenza; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS); Sheep Scab; Psittacosis; Rabies; Rinderpest; Scrapie, skin conditions in sheep, Swine vesicular disease and Tuberculosis.
  
Notifiable animal diseases are Bovine malignant catarrhal fever, Bluetongue, Lumpy skin disease,  Valley fever and Swine erysipelas.

Local beef prices are increasing

Internationally, cattle is finding seasonal support as the grilling season approaches and the early Easter offers an additional weekend in April for traditional grilling. Locally, beef prices increased in recent weeks, and prices can continue with this trend due to the impact of drought, according to ABSA Agri Trends
International
New Zealand steers traded 1.48% higher at NZ$480 and cows were 3.36% higher at NZ$308 per head respectively during the week of 8 March compared to a week previously. In the US, beef prices for the week were mostly higher as follows: Top side was 2.74% lower at $244,87cwt, Rump was 4.14% higher at $365,38/cwt and Strip loin was 0.03% higher at $557,16/cwt, Chuck traded 0.76 higher at $280,29/cwt, Brisket traded 4.00% higher at $233,64/cwt.  Read more ...

Mutton price to remain supported

Internationally, the early Easter this year might encourage demand. Locally, mutton prices are expected to remain supported due to the impact of the drought and seasonal improved demand towards Easter, according to ABSA Agri Trends.
International
The New Zealand lamb prices traded mostly lower during the week of 8 March compared to last week and mutton prices were the same. Lamb prices closed 0.15% lower at NZ$68.8/head for 15kg lamb. Ewe prices closed the same compared to the previous week at NZ$46.30/head for a 21kg ewe. The import parity price for lamb was 2.44% lower at R54.81/kg while the import parity price for mutton was 2.20% lower at R31.36/kg.  Read more ...
 
The April 2016 digital version of the Red Meat/Rooivleis magazine available on www.agriconnect.co.za
Index
  • SADC declares state of regional disaster as severe drought grips Southern Africa
  • Video's are very successful
  • SA has a shortage of vets
  • Interventions requested to ensure food security
  • Implementations of regulations is imperative
  • Classification system is still relevant
  • Beef day presented
  • List of diseases released
  • Local beef prices are increasing
  • Mutton price to remain supported
  • Local beef prices are increasing
  • Agriculture in limbo after the budget
  • Asset to the industy
  • Aid with fodder and water
  • Increase in internal parasites reported
  • Perspective
 
  •  

SA has a shortage of vets

A shortage of veterinarians was one of the reasons for implementing the voluntary service years for veterinarians, said Mr Mortimer Mannya, Acting Director-general of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

“There is a shortage of veterinarians in our country. There is a leakage in the system because other countries like New Zeeland, England and Australia is able to employ our veterinarians without them having to undergo further tests. Their qualifications are on the same level and it is easy for them to register when they move to other countries.”  Read more ...


Agriculture in limbo after the budget

"It will be extremely short sighted not to acknowledge the extreme economic pressures the country and also fiscal authorities currently have to grapple with," Mr Johannes Möller, President of Agri SA, said in response to the national budget delivered by the Minister of Finance, Mr Pravin Gordhan.
"We heard the Minister on the need for fiscal consolidation in relation to keeping the budget deficit intact, the efforts having been taken to identify new sources of revenue and the numerous demands the fiscus are facing, but we did expect more and firmer commitments from the Minister with respect to dealing with the impact of the current drought."  Read more ...


Asset to the industry

A comprehensive List of over 1 933 breed references to internationally recognised cattle breeds will be a great asset to the development of the red meat industry, related individuals as well as students in the sector.  
It includes a glossary of over 4 000 industry terms and 35 breed information pages. It can be viewed at http://cattleinternationalseries.weebly.com/


Aid with fodder and water

The following link can be followed for more information on fodder and water delivered by Agri SA to drought stricken communities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KeDW_QB9yc&sns=em


Increase in internal parasites reported

An increase in the number of animals affected by internal parasites was reported during February
Be aware that when rain fall after a drought period, large numbers of infective nematode larvae will be present on the short grass and animals will become infested with especially wireworm in the summer rainfall areas.  Read more ...


Perspective

The relationship and heritability of faecal egg count as a measure of genetic resistance to nematode infestation in sheep. 
Infestation with gastrointestinal nematodes is probably one of the most persistent problems in small stock production. It results in substantial losses through reduced growth rates, poor production performance and reduced reproductive efficiency, and therefore also in the overall economic outcome. For decades, gastrointestinal nematodes have been controlled by using anthelmintics. However, resistance of these nematodes to the chemicals used in treatment has become common.  Read more ...
      Skaapvleis Bloem Skou
 
      Bearded chef
 
Download the latest PMF Newsletter

Our mailing address is


PO Box 132
Persequor Park
0020

Our web address is:
www.rpo.co.za
Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list