Successful game farmers share their expertise at game breeding seminar

The business of successful game farming in the dynamic, fast-growing wildlife breeding industry in South Africa will be discussed at a seminar in Midrand on Friday 24 April.

Well-known leaders in the industry will highlight the challenges, risks and rewards of commercial game breeding. The wildlife breeding sector is estimated to contribute R10 billion to the country's economy every year.

Game farmers in South Africa are continuously organising themselves in provincial or regional structures to create opportunities to co-operate, trade and learn from one another. This seminar is one such example where experienced game farmers share their knowledge with current and emerging game farmers, but also with others who may wish to enter this lucrative market.

According to agricultural economist, Riaan Nowers, the game industry in South Africa is robust and has demonstrated its vitality and staying power in the commercial agricultural sector during 2014. He said the gross turnover of R1,97 billion from game auctions in 2014, was almost double than the 2013 results. A new record of 38 583 animals were traded in 2014, which is a 61% increase from the previous year.

In a recent article in AGRIPROBE (published by the Department of Agriculture, Western Cape) , Nowers predicts that the sector will continue to perform in 2015. He also foresees that the gross turnover of live sales will exceed R2 billion; the number of scarce game will increase to benefit biodiversity; the average nominal price for most species will increase, while the average real price of scarce species will continue to stabilise.

Speakers at the seminar include:

Louis van der Watt, who has a thorough understanding of the business side of game breeding, will share his financial and investment expertise.
Richard York, a cattle farmer, professional hunter and game rancher, will discuss recent trends in game farming and the impact on the hunting industry.
Jacques Kriek, who is involved in breeding programmes of various colour variants such as royal/red oryx, black oryx, black impala, golden wildebeest, will focus his presentation on colour variants.

Approximately 200 game farmers and potential investors are expected to attend the seminar in the Auditorium at Gallagher Convention Centre. It will start at 09:00 and end at 12:00.