Giving Western Cape smallholder beef producers “bull power”

by Dr Ilse Trautmann, ilset@elsenburg.com

TThe Western Cape currently produces approximately 4,5% of the national beef output. The contribution by smallholder producers is relatively small and the animals used for production are from many varied breeds including dairy cattle. The aim of the Bull Project of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture is to make top beef breed genetics available to smallholder farmers to increase the volume and quality they offer to the market. Normally stud bulls are very expensive and therefore difficult for these farmers to procure and this project addresses that challenge.

Results from the first bulls that have been distributed have already shown that smallholder beef producers are getting better prices and are selling heavier calves into the feedlot market at wean.

The project is a sterling example of collaboration and is managed by extension officers from the Farmer Support and Development programme. They engage with the farmers and provide on-farm support. Experts from the Research and Technology Development programme provide the bulls from a performance-tested Bonsmara stud, which ensures that quality breeding material is made available to these farmers. The team from veterinary services ensures that the farm where the bulls are distributed to is free of notifiable diseases and that the bulls are well kept and in healthy condition.

The project has been underway since 2016 and 41 bulls have been distributed to 26 smallholder farmers in the Overberg, Eden, West Coast and Swartland districts. The farmers are selected according to a set of criteria, including having at least 20 cows, sufficient land and infrastructure, and a knowledge of beef cattle farming and management. There are about 1 540 cows in the project and the average herd size is 38 cows. The recipients of the bulls pay a nominal fee of R100 per year for three years that the bull has been on the farm. Extension officers visit all the farms quarterly and veterinary services provide support when needed.

The handover of the first group of seven bulls of 2020 to seven farmers from Genadendal took place at a recent event at

Elsenburg (Kromme Rhee farm), hosted by Minister Ivan Meyer, Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape.

Speaking at the event, Minister Meyer emphasised that the project brings together three of his key priorities, namely market access, research, and farmer support and development. He stated that by making top breed genetics available to smallholder farmers, they can increase the volume and quality of beef, which will enable easier and greater access to the market. The intention is to increase the participation of small-scale beef producers in the beef market in the Western Cape and ultimately on a national scale.

Dr Mogale Sebopetsa, Head of Department, highlighted that the department would continue to support smallholder farmers. “Now that these farmers have received bulls with superior genetics, we will provide them with advisory and veterinary support services. With our continued support, they can grow their herds and their businesses.”