Rising meat consumption driving South Africa feed production
Animal production the largest agricultural sector in South Africa
6 November 2024
1 minute read
By: The expansion of the livestock sector in South Africa has played an integral part in the development of the animal feed industry, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report.
Animal production has more than doubled over the past 30 years in South Africa driven by higher meat demand. The major industries in the livestock sector include poultry, cattle, dairy, layers, pigs, wool, and sheep.
The livestock sector also includes well-developed value-added cold chain activities such as the slaughtering, processing, and preserving of products. Animal production is the largest agricultural sector in South Africa and contributes about 42% to total agricultural output in value terms. Field crops and the horticultural sector each contribute 29% contribution.
The poultry industry is South Africa’s largest individual agricultural industry, boasting a gross value of almost R63billion ($3.5 billion) and contributing 14% to the total gross value of agricultural products.
Commercial broiler meat production accounts for approximately 90% of the poultry meat industry in South Africa, with the remaining 10% comprised of subsistence farming production and spent hens. The poultry industry is followed by cattle production at R48 billion ($2.7 billion), dairy production ($1.4 billion), egg production ($0.7 billion), pigs ($0.6 billion), and sheep ($0.5 billion).
