Episode 4 of Nation in Conversation 2017, the country’s leading agri-talkshow, presents an enlightening insight into the Karoo lamb industry as well as the wool industry in South Africa. The scene is set when the Deputy Mayor of Beaufort West, Daleen Slabbert, tells us just what makes Beaufort West unique. Then we join Johnny Theunissen, owner of Scheurfontein farm, who tells us why Karoo lamb is the bees’ knees. And if you did not know this, Karoo Lamb is now a recognised brand internationally.
Fun fact… did you know there are 3 million Dorper sheep in the Karoo?
Resident agri-fundi, Editor in Chief of Landbouweekblad, Chris Burgess, joins show host Rozanne McKenzie once again to bring us the nitty gritty of the industry so to speak. Rozanne gets Chris going by reminding him that we South Africans love a lamb choppy on the braai, “so why is it so expensive?” Tune in to find out Chris’ answer.
Chris also shares his thoughts on the impact of stock theft, predation and profit margins in the industry.
The BKB Wool Handling Facility in Port Elizabeth handles the bulk of the country’s wool production and the show was allowed entry into this well-run and efficient plant. Jacobus Le Roux of BKB shares the company’s activities in marketing South African wool internationally and talks about an interesting CSI project involving the hearing impaired with which BKB is involved. “What is interesting is that we found that women are much better at sorting wool because they have a particular touch for the product so to speak,” says Jacobus. “We don’t produce the most wool in the world, but we definitely have some of the best quality wool in the world,” adds Jacobus.
Theo Vorster (Business Day TV) and Mpumelelo Mkhabela (Soweto TV) then invite Dr Pieter Prinsloo (Red Meat Producers Organisation) and Aggrey Mahanjana (NERPO) into the hot-seats to delve deeper into the industry that has a total of about 24 million sheep in operation.
If you want to know more about the total value chain of the sheep and wool industry, look no further than this insightful episode of Nation in Conversation:
Business Day TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX43LXJnjzo
Soweto TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuP6_wDxw-E
Nation in Conversation is proudly sponsored by Monsanto, Nedbank and Senwes, in association with AFGRI, Hinterland and NWK.
Download the Nation in Conversation App from the app store and visit the website at www.nationinconversation.co.za for full details of the broadcast schedule.