Sustainable Game Breeding in 21st Century South Africa
In South Africa, there has always been a uniquely strong connection among the people, the land and the wildlife. And as South Africa seeks to assert itself as an economic and environmental leader on the African continent, the wise management of game animals will be essential.
The challenges are real. Magnificent specimens of many important species or sub-species of animals face extinction, the productive use of marginal land becomes more critical each day, future food security is a growing concern and many rural communities depend on a subsistence economy.
To help overcome these challenges, game breeding in South Africa is moving into a new era of long-term sustainability.
The Stud Game Breeders group, an alliance of seven prominent independent breeders, seek to help lead that movement by taking progressive action in four dimensions:
Stud Game Breeders is an association made up of seven select members, all offering vast experience in game breeding. The association, chaired by Jacques Malan, has shown leadership in many aspects of the wildlife industry. All members of Stud Game Breeders are also members of Wildlife Ranching South Africa. In fact, Jacques Malan is President of WRSA and Norman Adami is Marketing Director. Stud Game Breeders, together with WRSA, look to steer the wildlife industry as a whole.
Working alongside other stakeholders and individual breeders, Stud Game Breeders seek to help game breeding become a sustainable source of strength for South Africa.
“The goal is simply a successful and vibrant game industry,” says Norman Adami. Norman emphasised the need for the industry to work together as a whole. “If we can all work together to create a sustainable game industry, then all breeders and stakeholders will benefit, and so will our country.”
1. Excellent Genetics and Best-practice Breeding approaches
With many magnificent specimens of the different game species facing dwindling numbers across the whole of Africa, Stud Game Breeders places a strong emphasis on providing high-quality care for its animals. Each member works hard to create the optimal conditions for their animals to thrive.
Ensuring healthy animals starts with the breeding process itself, in which quality genetics enjoys special prominence. Stud Game Breeders seek to breed animals of the highest, healthiest caliber with strong and diversified genetics. The common goal is to breed back the spectacular giants of the past that have been exterminated by hunting.
The members realised years ago that to remain ahead in this industry they needed to acquire and then breed the best genetics possible. This strategy has become evident over the years, as members of the association have been seen paying top prices on auctions for the best animals on offer. “Genetics is the key to the success of your breeding operation,” says Tony Morton, one of the most experienced game breeders in the industry. “Without the genetics, you are wasting your time if you want to be in the stud game-breeding market.” In order to create top 'stud' animals in South Africa it is imperative to be keenly selective when it comes to the genetics introduced into your breeding groups. This will contribute to excellent animals in our country.
Stud Game Breeders' members are willing to share their invaluable experience gained over years of farming with rare game species. By sharing their knowledge with new breeders they have assisted those breeders in developing successful breeding operations.
“That's the key to building a successful game industry as a whole,” says Jacques Malan. “The more successful breeders, both existing and new, there are, the more successfully our industry can operate as a source of strength for South Africa.”
2. Progressive Environmental Practices
The members of Stud Game Breeders understand the increasing preciousness of the South African environment, and each member insists on operating with practices that not only ensure strong, healthy animals, but also best use of habitat and water.
3. Ongoing Transformation
While the game-breeding business is the fastest growing sector in agriculture, it is still relatively small in South Africa with huge opportunity before it, and the members of Stud Game Breeders feel a strong obligation to create and support innovative efforts to ensure that a diverse range of South Africans can participate and benefit.
With the realisation of the need for transformation in the game industry, Stud Game Breeders approached Cyril Ramaphosa, a prominent South African businessman and keen breeder, to join their association in July 2010.
Stud Game Breeders has subsequently made progress in their transformation plan by starting the successful Stud Game Breeders/WRSA Practical Student Program sponsored by the association. This program aims to encourage young black students to become involved in the game industry and provide them with the opportunity to put their studies into practice at experienced game-breeding operations – an invaluable opportunity for any student.
4. Increasing Professionalism
As a unique global opportunity for our country and a key component of agriculture and tourism in South Africa, game breeding delivers a highly attractive economic 'multiplier effect', generating superior value for many stakeholders, including communities in the rural areas of South Africa.
Stud Game Breeders believe that all breeders can benefit from working together more closely with each other and our stakeholders to the larger benefit of game breeding and the nation itself.
While the game-breeding business has included many people of strong business skills and high integrity, the industry itself has operated in a highly fragmented way. The members of Stud Game Breeders support the development of standards, which ensure that all dealings reflect high integrity and consistent principles.
Stud Game Breeders Auctions
Stud Game Breeders offer animals on a catalogue auction on the first Saturday of September every year. It is at these auctions where other breeders or farmers looking to start game breeding have the opportunity to acquire among the best genetics available in the game industry. By selling the game on catalogue, there is a minimum amount of stress on the animals and they can be viewed by prospective buyers in their natural environments. The members encourage buyers to visit their farms prior to the sale to view what is on offer.
Selected comments from some of the prominent game breeders in the country:
“Stud Game Breeders are undoubtedly among the pacesetters within the industry”… Tina de Jager of Bushveld Game Capture.
“Stud Game Breeders are always thinking ahead, with professionalism and business standards a great hallmark of their association”… Hanru Strydom, General Manager of Shambala Game Reserve.
“Stud Game Breeders are clearly driving progress within the industry. Not only do they offer top-quality animals and some of the best genetics on their auctions, but they also play an active and continuing role in attracting and supporting businessmen as new entrants into the industry, who themselves have recognised that the economics of game breeding makes sense given the attractive return on investment”… Piet du Toit of Pilansberg Wild.
For all Stud Game Breeder News Articles read here >
Auction on Saturday 3 September 2011
at Mbizi, Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) @ 11h00
