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May 2011
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Van die voorsitter
Goeie jaar vir bedryf verwag
Louw van Reenen van Beefmaster op Christiana in Noordwes, is die SA Voerkraalvereniging se nuwe voorsitter. Hy is positief oor die toekoms van die bedryf ten spyte van die swaard van siektes soos bek-en-klouseer wat oor die bedryf se kop hang. "Die sterk beesvleisprys is goeie nuus vir die voerkraalbedryf omdat daar nou meer kontant in omloop is, maar speenkalfpryse het natuurlik ook gestyg. Hoewel die bedryf siklies van aard is en beesvleispryse soos elke jaar in die winter laer neig, voorsien ek 'n goeie jaar vir die bedryf." Lees meer
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Dr Hinner Köster
A word from our sponsor
Animate Animal
Health signs exclusivity agreement
Huvepharma®, a privately-owned global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria with other main offices in Belgium, has appointed South African company, Animate Animal Health (Pty) Ltd, as official exclusive distributor of the company's products for the South African and Sub Saharan markets.
This include the complete range of registered Huvepharma, South Africa animal health and performance enhanced additive products," says Dr Hinner Köster, technical director of Animate.
This has been effective from September 2010. Growth in the region will come from Huvepharma’s well-known European approved antibiotic and anticoccidial animal product range, performance enhancers, as well as their enzyme range.
Huvepharma® is present in every major market and holds important product registrations in the USA (FDA approved) and in the European Union (Brand Specific Approved). They also partner with all major export-oriented integrators in different parts of the world that value products with a Brand Specific Approval in the EU.
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Consumers
You will have to take note of the CPA
Producers and traders will have to take note of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) as this act demands total transparency from all role-players in the food production chain, said Ina Wilken, vice-chairperson of the National Consumer Forum at the Cleaver ceremony.
Wilken was the guest speaker at the function. "Consumers have access to a wealth of information through the internet and it is not possible to hide practices that are not to the consumer's linking.
They want to know where their food comes from.
The recent debacle in the chicken industry came about as a result of a consumer complaint,"
Wilken said.
"Consumers demand safe food and good service, quality and hygiene are also important to them. The Consumer Protection Act, which was introduced on 1 April, will give them unlimited protection. Complaints about food will in future be investigated by consumer protection bodies."
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Conference 2011
Producing feedlot cattle reduces greenhous gases
Producing beef in cattle feedlots reduces greenhouse gases per kilogram of beef, reduces land use per kilogram of beef, and consequently leaves a smaller carbon footprint due to a smaller release of greenhouse gases, said Dr Dave Hutcheson, a USA feedlot consultant from Amarillo in Texas, at the conference.
It is clear the South African feedlot industry is maintaining a very high standard of quality control in their feed. He said he had been a speaker three times previously at the SAFA conference and every year the conference brings new technology to the feedlot industry.
He emphasised a statement by Bill Gates, USA information electronics billionaire that 70% of increased food production needed to come from the use of technologies. Hutcheson said when he first visited the RSA in 1989 the local feedlot industry fed 600-700 thousand head of cattle and the industry was on the brink of huge expansion; today it feeds between 1.5 and 1.6 million. Marketing also developed dramatically – from marketing through government controlled abattoirs on a permit system to feedlots integrated with regional abattoirs and processing plants marketing vacuum packed fresh and frozen beef directly to outlets.
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From the office
Foot and mouth disease: Legal opinion awaited
The red meat industry has for the past years often raised concerns regarding the state of border fences and the serious danger of diseases spreading from neighboring countries to South Africa. The KZN Department recently said: “ We regret allowing the foot and mouth disease fence to fall apart" and in an article Mr Mkhize from the Department said: "The fence started falling apart in the early 1990’s”.
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Market trends
Prices nearing the winter cycle
It seems that prices are nearing the typical winter cycle. Click here to access the latest
• Beef price trends
• Break even statistics
• Chop price trends
• R/c/kg live marketed trends
• Weaner price trends
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Cleavers
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Cleavers
Record number of consumer nominations received
South Africa's best butcheries, both nationally and regionally, were announced at a luncheon in April attended by senior members of the meat production and retail industry, award finalists, judges and the media.This year saw six national and 41 provincial butcheries winning Platinum or Gold Cleaver Awards. Between October and December 2010, 17 600 public nominations were received via sms, a new record for these awards. Of these, 145 finalists were individually and anonymously assessed against a 212 point checklist.
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Cleavers
Butchery standards have improved significantly
Since the Cleaver Awards were introduced six year ago, butchery standards have significantly improved and feedback from consumers show that the majority perceive the Cleaver Awards to be a seal of approval. An initiative of the South African Red Meat Industry Forum, these Awards acknowledge butcheries, which meet consumer expectations on in-store hygiene, the supply of quality assured roller marked South African Beef, their level of competency in offering the best advice on meal preparations and perceived value for money. Read more
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Cleavers
They are South Africa's top butcheries
The cleaver Awards were presented in April. Categories are structured according to the size and nature of each butchery, namely: Three or fewer tills, four or more tills and meat markets
There were six national winners and 41 regional winners. Click here to see who South Africa's top butchers are.
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Cleavers
Most authoritative competition in the country
Hendrik Steenkamp of Boma Vleismark in Moreletta Park, Pretoria,won Platinum in the Up to 3 Tills Division. He says winning a Cleaver means much to the business as the Cleaver Awards is the most authoritative competion among meat traders. "We display the award in our store and consumers take note," he says. He wants to see more publicity for the winners and believe that consumers must to a greater extent be made aware of the competition and the winners. "I believe that it is a huge achievement to receive a Cleaver," he says.
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Cleavers
First time participant took Platinum
First time participant, Martin Gericke of Seemans, Strijdom Park, took the Platinum Award in the Up to 3 Tills Division. "We are very pleased with the award and Seemans will in future again participate," he says. As the outlet is also export approved and also supply to among others, Pick n Pay and Woolworths the store did not have to made changes to its standards. "They have to be high anyway," Gericke says.
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Cleavers
Hard work rewarded
The Crossing Super Spar in Nelspuit was awarded Platinum in the Meat Market Division. One of the group's other stores, The Grove Spar also in Nelspruit received Gold in the same division. (See report below.) Manager Susan Oosthuyse says the award rewards the staff's hard work."It proves that we care about our customers and that they can be assured of our good quality. The award is a great honour and means that our hard work is recognised. Our clients are impressed," she says.
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Cleavers
Award leads to higher butchery standards
"We regard our Cleaver Award as a highlight," says Shaun Jericevich of the Berliner Grill & Deli in Northriding. The butchery received Gold in the Up to 3 Tills Division. "I believe that the Cleavers result in higher butchery standards and this is good for the industry. The more butcheries participating the better, as this will ensure that standards will increase even more," he said.
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Cleuvers
Competition has excellent marketing value
Rudi Oosthuyse of the Grove Super Spar in Nelspuit won Gold in the Meat Market Division. They also owe the Crossing Spar in Nelspruit, that won Platinum in the same division. He has received an award for four consecutive years now. "I believe that it is a huge achievement to won a Cleaver and it certainly is good marketing for our stores. This proves to the consumer that they can be assured of the best quality in our stores. We also receive good publicity in the local media," he says.
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Cleavers
Award keeps staff on their toes
"We are very pleased with our Cleaver and we received publicity in local newspapers and on radio," says Susan Ludick of the Uitkyk Vleismark in Lichtenburg who received Gold in the 4 and more Tills Division. "People take note of the award. It also ensures that our standards remain high and this keep our staff on their toes," she says.
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Highlights of SAFA's 2011 Conference
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Conference 2011
New institutions will replace those that have failed
"We are living in a world of failed institutions. For years we believed that people have to serve institutions instead of institutions serving people. But new institutions serving a new democracy, will now emerge," said Prof Mohammad Karan, dean of the Faculty Agricultural Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch," at the conference.
Read more
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Conference 2011
Test your strategy against the extreme
It is important to adapt and change your vision and strategy and to test your strategy against extreme variables. Ask what keep you awake at night and then choose the right game, said Clem Sunter, a scenario planner, at the conference. Sunter said that a lot of companies survived the recession better than others because they offered cheaper alternatives. "Farmers must ask themselves how their game has changed and if they have done better or worse." Read more
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Conference 2011
Effective trace minerals can reduce your health bill
Feeder cattle's health status is the largest unhedgeable risk in the cattle feeding business. An adequate intake of effective trace minerals can reduce your health bill considerably, said Dr Connie Larson of Zinpro Corporation in the USA at the conference. Minerals such as zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, chromium and selenium play and important role as a lack of these minerals in feedlot diets most likely affect immunity and stress in calves. Read more
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Conference 2011
NTB's will require a well organised industry
Non Tariff Barriers (NTB's) may play a more important role than tariffs in future to protect the red meat industry against imports, said Lambert Botha, director of Trade Law Chambers at the conference. These measures could be effective but requires a level of competency in both the government and the industry. "These measures require good management practices and a fair understanding of the rules of the game," he said.
Read more
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Conference 2011
Legislation keep South Africans out of jobs
Unemployment is not South Africa's biggest problem. Employment is and legislation is keeping South Africans out of jobs, said Dawie Roodt, senior economist of the Efficient Group, at the conference. "Certain legislation prevent people from starting businesses. The government should collude and not be the biggest competition to job creation. It needs not create jobs but merely take away the obstacles. Economic growth should be the governments' priority but some government policies will not make this happen." Read more
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Conference 2011
Change is not a choice for feedlotters
"Change is not choice for the feedlot industry but a matter of survival. You will need to move boundaries." This was the message of Dr Pieter Henning, director for research and development at MS Biotech. Dr Henning said that awareness of the need to move boundaries, and willingness to try new technologies, is a must for survival. "Step-up is a very real boundary, and one which may be moved," he said.
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