Stockmanschool 19-21 October 2011
Stockman School Press Release: Dr. Michael Bradfield.
2011 Stockman school
The 2011 AldamStockman School brought together role players from the whole Southern African beef industry. Over two hundred delegates attended the three day workshops.
Participants included Southern Africa’s leading commercial beef producers, stud producers, representatives from the feedlot sector and also the retail sector.
Lee Leachman, one of America’s largest cattle seed stock producers gave a general overview of the world beef industry. As the oil price increases he gave evidence that over 50% of global corn will be used for the production of ethanol. However, this will create even bigger demand for protein and will keep a lot of countries out of the lucrative grain fed markets. We will thus see fewer Americans or South African’s eating steak because they simply won’t be able to afford it. At the same time the highly populated eastern regions are becoming wealthier and they will undoubtedly be the new consumers for high value proteins thus exacerbating the global demand.
Beef prices will thus continue to remain high and beef will remain a lucrative and sought after commodity. The feedlot sector will continue to prosper in these high value markets.
Continuing with a very positive theme for the beef industry in South Africa, Mr J.P. Landman, a political and economic analyst, showed how the investment into the infrastructure of South Africa has increased from 4% to 8.4% since the year 2000. A lot of money has been spent on roads and the railway infrastructure in the last few years compared to the previous 20 years. We have strong private sector institutions compared to many other developing economies (for e.g. Russia) and can expect our economy to continue to grow. Threats remain social and human issues such as the tensions created by transition.
Click to enlarge
Feedback
“I am pleased to say without reservation that the Aldam School is the best beef industry education event that I have attended in the last 20 years. This event will continue to evolve over time to become a ‘must attend’ meeting for all leading beef cattle breeders in Southern Africa.”
PA Rickards (OAM Managing Director ABRI)
