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Slaughter percentages: the picture
The RPO often has enquiries about the percentage of slaughtering occurring between the age groups in the formal sector.
According to SAMIC, A-class lambs represents 85% of formal slaughtering, AB-class, represents 4% and C-class 9%.
The drought had an impact on slaughter percentages:
Slaughter percentages of sheep:
| Age group |
Normal slaughtering |
Deviation because of the drought |
| A |
85 |
75 |
| AB |
4 |
3 |
| B |
2 |
7 |
Read more ...
RPO Chairman is livestock producer of the year
GWK, the farmer-owned South African agri-business, has announced the overall  winners of its annual GWK Icons, a celebration of leaders in the agriculture industry.
Mr Koos van der Ryst from the Koopmansfontein area was named livestock producer of the year, in recognition of his excellent farming practices. He supplied more than 1 000 cattle for meat production. Read more ...
Trade flow analysed
The Agricultural Trade Forum shared a report on the status of South Africa’s agricultural trade performance with Asia (27 countries excluding Middle East) during 2015 by analysing trade flows.
In terms of total agricultural trade, South Africa had a positive trade balance with Asian countries from 1996 to 2006 (SA exports > SA imports). Asia had a positive trade balance with South Africa from 2007 to 2013 (SA imports > SA exports). South Africa regained its positive trade dominance with a positive trade balance from 2014 to 2015 (SA exports > SA imports). Read more ...
DAFF meets with Animal Health Forum
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (DAFF) Veterinary Strategy, the Bovine Brucellosis situation and compulsory community service for veterinarians came under the spotlight during the last meeting of representatives of DAFF and the national Animal Health Forum.
According to DAFF, all the involved parties have agreed to the veterinary strategy document. The official document will soon be presented to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to be signed off. Read more ...
New diet advice is needed
Potatoes and cereals increase the risk of heart disease while high fat dairy products cut the risk, according to a new study which rejects accepted wisdom on a healthy diet.
The research, which looked at dietary habits in 42 European countries over 16 years, conflicts with current government nutrition guidance and has led to calls for new advice to be issued. Read more ...
Lower meat prices expected in Namibia
The loss of about N$35 million that Meatco has suffered since the closure of its Okapuka feedlot on 2 September, can in the following weeks lead to a drop of between N$5 and N$8/kg in the producer price of beef.
According to Meatco’s latest newsletter, its weekly loss due to the closure of the feedlot is about N$5 million. Because of this fact, the management decided to direct a notice to producers containing the warning that the feedlot will in the next two weeks still be closed and that this situation will lead to a drop of between N$5 and N$8/kg in the producer price. Read more ...
Local beef prices expected to rise
Internationally, increased global beef production is bearish to the market. This is due to expanding supplies from the US and South America. Locally, prices are expected to move upwards due to expected improvement in demand during month end, according to ABSA Agri Trends.
International
New Zealand steers were mostly lower over the week of 25 October at 5.38NZ$/kg and cows were the same at 3.95NZ$/kg respectively compared to the previous week. In the US, beef prices for the week were mostly lower as follows: Top side was 1.04% lower at $184,05cwt, Rump was 16.11% lower at $226,23/cwt and Strip loin was 15.65% lower at $377.21/cwt, Chuck traded 3.32%lower at $196,11/cwt, Brisket traded 3.83% lower at $193,74/cwt. The carcass equivalent price was 8.63% lower at $229.06/cwt. Read more ...
Local demand for mutton improves
Internationally, current mutton prices continue to be strengthened by tight supplies from New Zealand and Australia and Christmas trade. Local prices may be supported by month end buying and improved demand in line with seasonality, according to ABSA Agri Trends.
International
The New Zealand lamb prices were sideways the week of 25 October compared to the previous week and mutton prices were also sideways. Lamb prices closed the same at NZ$88.1/head for 15kg lamb. Lamb prices were the same at NZ$123.4/head for 21kg lamb. Ewe prices closed sideways at NZ$58.8/head for a 21kg ewe. The import parity price for lamb was 0.58% lower at R65.69/kg while the import parity price for mutton was 0.56% lower at R36.31/kg. Read more ...
Lamb and Mutton SA and “Die Skapieskool” at Livestock Expo 2016
It was the Western Cape’s turn to showcase their livestock industry this October at Agri  Expo’s Livestock Expo and Lamb and Mutton SA was there to be part of this elite event. The expo was held in Stellenbosch at the Sandringham farm. The expo started off with a two day long educational program for about 3 000 local children. This educational program included different “Hubs” where scholars could learn about different animals and activities in the livestock industry. The Lamb and Mutton Hub had an educational program on a lamb and mutton meat and a healthy diet. Each child received a delicious Karusaf lamb sausage and an educational newspaper to take home. This newspaper can be downloaded here from the cookingwithlamb.com website http://www.cookingwithlamb.com/science-snippets.
 The weekend program at Livestock expo included various festivities such as live musical entertainment, a youth agricultural show and food demonstrations. Heleen Meyer, RSG and Kyknet food personality, who’s renowned for her healthy way of cooking, gave a demonstration and talk about including lamb and mutton meat in a healthy diet. Here’s what she made in her demonstration http://www.heleenmeyer.co.za/kospos-blog/2016/10/13/livestock-expo-15-october-2016-lamb-and-mutton-sa-recipes/
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school sessions over an 18 month period. 
The Diploma is unique in that it (i) is offered part time; (ii) includes an extensive practical programme and (iii) students are assessed through portfolios of evidence and is not required to complete written exams.
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