THE MARKETING OF LIVESTOCK IN SOUTH AFRICA'S DEVELOPING AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF THE ROLE OF SPECULATORS, AUCTIONEERS, BUTCHERS AND PRIVATE BUYERS IN LEBOWA / Die bemarking van lewende hawe in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika: 'n Gevallestudie van die rol van veespekulante, afslaers, slagters en privaat kopers in Lebowa

Abstract

The importance of livestock in rural households is well known and their role in the households well documented. Despite the important social and cultural value of livestock, especially cattle, there is a growing tendency amongst rural households to sell livestock. This paper is based on research into livestock marketing in developing areas. The research investigates the reasons for selling and marketing channels used by rural households. This paper specifically considers the role of speculators, auctioneers and butchers in the marketing of livestock in developing areas. The increasing popularity of private sales is discussed and analyzed. These different outlets serve as the major marketing channels for livestock producers in developing areas. In marketing their livestock through the different channels, farmers experience a range of problems and constraints. The paper analyses these constraints and complaints and also shows how these affect the farmers' choice of a particular marketing outlet. The paper emphasises that farmers do not have access to market information, i.e. current prices, supply, etc., while auctioneers, the limited buyers at auctions and the speculators do have access to market information. It is therefore concluded that the marketing of livestock in developing areas can be improved through addressing the various problems in the different marketing channels as well as through providing farmers with sufficient market information. This will enable farmers to make informed choices in the marketing of their livestock. UielrselDie bemarking van lewende hawe in die minderahvikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika: 'n GevaUestudie van die rol van veespekulante, afslaers, slagters en privaat kopers in Lebowa Die belangrike rol wat lewende hawe in landelike huishoudings vervul is welbekend en wyd gedokumenteer. Ondanks hierdie funksies toon onlangse navorsing aan dat veeboere in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede toenemend vee vir kommersiZle redes, dit wil s& vir uiteindelike bemarking, aanhou. Hierdie referaat is gebaseer op navorsing wat gedoen is oor die bemarking van lewendehawe in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika en ondersoek die redes vir verkope van vee asook die bemarkingskanale wat gebruik word. Die referaat gee spesifieke aandag aan die rol van veespekulante, VCG veilings en slagters in die bemarking van lewende hawe. Die toenemende gewildheid van privaat uitdiehand verkope word ook ondersoek. Bogenoemde dien as die belangrikste bemarkingskanale vir veeboere in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede. Die referaat ontleed verder 'n hele reeks van probleme wat hierdie boere ondervind in die bemarking van hul vee. Die struktuur en beperkings van veebemarking in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika word ondersoek. Klem is geplaas op die rol en belangrikheid van elk van die venkillende bemarkingskanale, die probleme wat ondervind word asook maniere om die funksionering van die kanale te verbeter. Die referaat beklemtoon dat veeboere nie toegang tot markinligting, 900s byvoorbeeld, heersende pry...

Smallholders and livestock markets

“…In a study in Lebowa -as previously mentioned, now part of Limpopo Province - Nkosi and Kirsten (1993) pointed out that quite a few authors had previously reported farmers in developing areas to have used a number of channels to market livestock: auctions, speculators, direct marketing, butchers and private sales. They found that in Lebowa, almost half of their respondents (48%) kept livestock for commercial purposes, while 45% kept it as a store of wealth.…”

Analysis of the determinants of the sustainability of cattle marketing systems in Zambezi Region of north-eastern communal area of Namibia

“…Notably, the participation in the marketing system has more to do with the number of cattle owned (Hangara et al, 2012;Enkono et al, 2013). According to Nkosi and Kirsten (1993) the apparent reason for selling cattle amongst farmers in developing countries is emergency sales. This is so because cattle sales emerge from economic circumstances that compel owners to sell in order to obtain sufficient money to purchase pressing needs (Nkosi and Kirsten, 1993).…”

“…According to Nkosi and Kirsten (1993) the apparent reason for selling cattle amongst farmers in developing countries is emergency sales. This is so because cattle sales emerge from economic circumstances that compel owners to sell in order to obtain sufficient money to purchase pressing needs (Nkosi and Kirsten, 1993). There is a need, however, to promote informal market participation in order to increasingly recognize the efforts of bringing about agricultural change in Namibia since traditionally, farmers sell cattle when they need money (Shiimi et al, 2010).…”

“…Makhura (2001) argues that poor condition of livestock also results in farmers getting low farm gate prices especially during dry conditions (drought years). The age of animals is also important as farmers tend to sell older animals and equally contributes to poor prices (Nkosi and Kirsten, 1993). Cattle farmers prefer selling older cattle because the younger ones (females) are used for breeding purposes.…”