ACCORDING to a local abattoir manager, the cost of grain-fed meat will rise within the next two weeks as more and more cattle farmers struggle to keep up with the expense of feeding their livestock during the worst drought South Africa has seen in 23 years.
This according to Empangeni’s Top Grade Abattoir Manager Doepie du Preez, who says the price of maize is currently 60% higher than this time last year.
‘It’s normal for the price of meat to go up before December, but it very well could climb higher than usual as an aftermath of the drought,’ said Du Preez.
‘I do not expect the price to drop after January either. Many farmers are in the situation where they have to slaughter more than usual or sell their cattle and now is the best time to do so.
‘With peak season, people get bonuses and meat is in high demand.
‘Sales always go up during this period, but by next year there will less meat available to meet demand, which means until the drought ends hopefully next year, meat will remain expensive.’
Du Preez highlighted that because the abattoir only processes grain-fed meat, all products are hygienic and uncontaminated.
Death by drought
An estimated 40 000 cows have already died and another 800 000 may have to be killed in KZN with the dry spell leaving insufficient grazing for farm animals.
According to the government’s crop estimates committee, SA will have to reduce season plantings of grain next year to the smallest since 2011.
Agbiz CEO John Purchase predicted the devastation of the drought will cause the country’s farmers to lose up to R10-billion this year.
‘Just the maize crop is down from 14.25 million tons last year to an estimated 9.84 million tons this year,’ Purchase said.
To address the grave conditions, the Department of Water Affairs committed over R350-million to drought-related projects, including infrastructure upgrades, drilling boreholes, rainwater harvesting and establishing desalination plants.
An additional R96-6-million will be used to build temporary water tanks across KZN.
