Wildlife / Game Farming
Game Farming Industry in South Africa has progressed to, not only become a world leader in extensive sustainable utilization of game species, but has now tapped into the local and international meat market. Due to demand by, inter alia, health conscious consumers, game meat has developed from being traditionally only eaten in the dried form i.e. biltong or dried wors, to a large number of game meat dishes in popular restaurants and game farm lodges.
The agricultural potential of our country is limited, with relatively little of its surface area suitable for crop production. Much of the country is arid or semi-arid, with only 28% of the land surface receiving 600mm or more of rain per annum. Most land is suitable only for extensive livestock production. Only 16.7 million hectares (13.7%) are arable, and 1.3 million hectares are irrigated.
The South African wildlife culture is based upon sustainable use / commercialisation. Game farmers progressed from world leaders in extensive sustainable utilization of game species to fully-fledged suppliers of game meat, both to local and international meat markets (Ebedes & Meyer, 2008; Reilly et al., 2003). Outstanding health characteristics of game meat:
- lower kilojoule value in fat,
- lower cholesterol (Hoffman et al. 2004; Aidoo and Haword 1995).
Health benefits of game meat should be highlighted and marketed - free from medications, antibiotics, growth stimulants and vaccines (Reilly, Sutherland & Harvey, 2003).