High quality markets and value chains for small-scale and emerging beef cattle farmers in South Africa - final report

The history of this project has been one of ongoing changes of direction, though none have had major negative impacts on the project. Initially a 2011 proposal aimed to examine the feasibility of developing higher-value beef markets and value chains in South Africa based on pasture-finished cattle from smallholder farms that were slaughtered at older ages than the 80% of South Africa's grain-finished cattle. Due to difficulties with sign-off in South Africa, the project did not formally start until March 2015. During the sign-off period though, the research team had been able to verify that those new market opportunities were available. Hence, the project's focus was changed in 2015 to concentrate on development of new value chains willing to accept cattle from smallholder farmers.