Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 4 2017 i PRIVATE GAME | WILDLIFE RANCHING

Die stand van die skaarswildspesie-bedryf het oor die afgelope paar jaar stilweg die stoetveebedryf toenemend begin volg deurdat wetenskaplike standaarde soos DNS, ouerskappe en bloedlyne al belangriker geword het. Die groot vraag vandag by baie telers is: “Wat is die regte bloedlyne om in te belê?”. Die antwoord is so eenvoudig dat mense dit nie kan glo nie en graag wil kompliseer. Daar is so baie lesse wat reeds in die veebedryf geleer en gedokumenteer is. En hierdie lesse kan jy in die wildbedryf toepas. As jy vandag byvoorbeeld ’n Angus-stoetbees wil koop om jou kudde te verbeter, gaan jy nie noodwendig kyk van watter land dié spesifieke Angus se voorgeslag oorspronklik afkomstig is nie. Jy gaan kyk na die reputasie van ’n goeie teler en jy gaan sy bloedlyne…

The formal game-meat processing industry is still in its infancy – but the opening of Delikatessen Meat Company (DMC), a game-meat processing facility that complies with ISO standards instead of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, is setting a new standard. The 490m² factory, which started production in May, is co-owned by Diets and Jeanne van der Sande, Charl Brink, owner of Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Reserve in Sabi Sands, and Hendri Taylor of DMC Stellenbosch. DMC produces for a niche market that includes restaurants, lodges and hotels that want to serve game-meat as a proudly South African product. “It is a new market, and one that needs to be developed – but we believe there will be a huge demand,” says Diets. “DMC produces for a niche…

“Through registering a wildlife ranch as a VCA, the ranch can be recognised for its commitment to sustainability and conserving biodiversity.” Each wildlife ranch will make its own unique contribution to supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and biodiversity based on the ecological legacy of the area, the needs and demands of stakeholders including regulators and neighbouring communities, the nature of its commercial operations, and the effectiveness of its conservation management efforts. A core requirement for verifying the contribution of a wildlife ranch to biodiversity is an area-based conservation management plan. Such a plan needs to address key biodiversity issues that have been globally accepted as best practice, including (a) identifying and preserving critical habitat, (b) contributing to the conservation efforts of neighbouring protected areas, (c) eliminating or…

My vorige artikel (Wyse toetrede tot bedryf, Wildlife Ranchingtydskrif, uitgawe 5 2016) het gekyk na die aanloop om ’n wildboerdery te begin en die parameters wat gemeet moet word. Hierdie artikel kyk in meer diepte na die ontwikkelingsfase. Soos in die vorige artikel beskryf, begin alles by die eienaar se visie en die potensiaal-omvangsopname-studie (ecological scoping report) van die plaas deur ’n deskundige wildekoloog. Nou volg die eerste van drie ontwikkelingsfases, naamlik die vasstelling van doelwitte (’n doelwit is tydgebonde met ’n begin- en einddatum), die uitleg van kampe, bestuur- en teelprogramme, risikobestuur en finansiële en bemarkingsbestuur. Die omvangsopname bepaal die moontlikheid van aanhouding van verskillende diersoorte asook die tipe boerdery/ kampstelsel wat op die grond geïmplementeer kan word. WILDKAMPE Vrylopend (geen kampe) kan slegs toegepas word waar die hele…

“Diets focused on keeping animals at maintenance differ from diets where the outcome is to produce calves every year.” INTRODUCTION Not too long ago, the Cape buffalo migrated in large family groups throughout sub-Saharan Africa, in search of green grass rich in protein and energy. Since the inception of zoos, game reserves in the early 1900s, and more recently game farms, most buffalo are housed in smaller fenced-off areas limiting or preventing migration. When considering farming with buffalo it is critical to know what the farmer, conservationist or zoo’s ideas are in the long term – are the animals to be kept for tourism purposes, hunting or breeding? The reason why this is important is that diets focused on keeping animals at maintenance differ from diets where the outcome is…

“For anyone willing to put in the time and effort practicing with their firearm and closing the gap on game, handgun hunting offers a unique thrill.” There are lots of great handguns on the market today. However, most of these are designed for self-defence and target shooting; not hunting. Fortunately, several manufacturers specifically produce some high-quality handguns for hunting. Handgun hunting presents its own challenges, and demands more of the hunter. Rifles and muzzleloaders offer better accuracy at greater distances, but for anyone willing to put in the time and effort practicing with their firearm and closing the gap on game, handgun hunting offers a unique thrill. “Handgun hunting presents its own challenges, and demands more of the hunter.” The double action/single action Ruger Redhawk was first introduced in 1979…

RVF IN LIVESTOCK Sheep, goats, and cattle can all be infected with RVFV by mosquitoes, but each species has varying degrees of illness. The most obvious clinical sign in domestic animals is a very high rate of abortions – up to 100% in pregnant animals. Sheep are the most vulnerable to RVFV infection. In particular, newborn lambs (less than two weeks of age) experience fever, pain, and rapid breathing rates before death, usually within 24-36 hours after infection. Lambs over two weeks of age and adult sheep are also highly susceptible to RVF, with death rates up to 30%. Cattle, calves, goats, and kids tend to have similar clinical signs to sheep and lambs but with lower death rates. RVF IN PEOPLE Humans can become infected with RVF after contact…

For those individuals seeking pure luxury, pampering, want to sleep in, but also enjoy a morning drive, fine cuisine and the ultimate relaxation in breathtaking surroundings, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a must and they certainly provide all this and more. This 22 000ha private game reserve is situated in the Great Fish River Valley of the Eastern Cape. The Great Fish River runs through the reserve and gives Kwandwe 30km river frontage of pure pristine wilderness on both its north and south flanks. Kwandwe, like most other private game reserves today, has its own unique story. An African tale where an idea shared around a campfire realised a dream into reality. American entrepreneurs Carl DeSantis and Erika Stewart sat down with naturalist guide Angus Sholto-Douglas and his wife, Tracy,…

Author: Erik Holm Publisher: Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN: 978-1-7758-4224-8 Format: Soft cover, 21x18cm, 208pp Retail price: R290 Available in Afrikaans: Insektopedie: Die geheime wêreld van suider-Afrikaanse insekte Dr Erik Holm is a Professor Emeritus and former Head of the Entomology Department at the University of Pretoria. A prolific author, he has published more than 100 scientific papers and eight books on insects, and is a regular contributor to popular media like Beeld and Landbouweekblad. He is also a well-known radio broadcaster, and his talks on a variety of radio stations have captivated and educated listeners for more than 40 years. This is a fully redesigned, updated and revised iteration of its predecessor (published in 2008). It is an excellent book that will…

SCI: 138½" Rowland Ward: 53½" ’nWildveearts wat spesialiseer in die bestuursaspekte van die teel van skaars herbivoorspesies, dr. Kobus du Toit, het vroeër vanjaar ’n horingbalans-indeks van bekende Suid-Afrikaanse buffelbulle saamgestel. In April 2017 het ’n artikel in Landbouweekblad verskyn wat hierdie nuwe benadering tot die evaluering van horing-grootte bekend gestel het, insluitend die resultate van ’n steekproef van buffelbulle wat in Suid-Afrika getoets is. Op grond van beskikbare data was die 4 Dogters-boerdery se bul Salomo die top-buffelbul in ’n horingbalansindeks van bekende Suid-Afrikaanse buffelbulle. Wildlife Ranching-tydskrif het met dr. Du Toit gaan gesels om meer insae te bekom oor die navorsing en resultate wat gepubliseer is. Dr. Du Toit beklemtoon dat slegs bulle waarvan die Rowland Ward én die SCI-waardes in die media gepubliseer is, op sy tabel…

“The central idea that emerged was that poverty and environmental degradation are linked and that neither can be overcome in isolation.” Sustainable economic development remains a leading global political priority in these times, especially in South Africa with its rapid human population growth, persistently high levels of unemployment and significant inequalities in wealth and income. What role does wildlife play in development and can the wildlife ranching industry make a more positive contribution than it does at present? Opinions seem divided on this issue. To understand why, we need to consider that different people representing varying interest groups do not share the same views on the role of wildlife in society or even the exact meaning of the word ‘development’. For the first half of the 20th century, most national…

Soveel kunstenaars sing vir dekades al oor ons pragtige land Suid-Afrika en die diversiteit daarvan. Jim Reeves se unieke vertolking in sy Engelse uitspraak van ons mooie ‘Ou Kalahari’ en Hugo se treffer so ’n paar jaar gelede wat ons deur die lang paaie en draaie van Suid-Afrika geneem het, is maar net twee voorbeelde. Albei hierdie liedjies het onwillekeurig in my gedagtes opgekom terwyl ek in Junie die langpad gevat het om wildboere tussen Gauteng en die Oos-Kaap te besoek. My nege-dag toer het afgeskop by ’n Bona-Bona-veiling buite Wolmaransstad, waar opvallend baie jongmense was. ’n Mens kan net opgewonde raak oor ons bedryf as jy al die jongmense – insluitend mammas en kindertjies wat hul jong wildboerman en -pappa ondersteun – sien wat só ’n geleentheid bywoon en…

“Two issues in terms of auctions that need to be considered are the recourse of a consumer for defects and misstatements.” RETURNING GOODS IN TERMS OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (CPA) The Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (CPA) came into force on 1 April 2011 and applies only to transactions with consumers that have occurred in South Africa after 1 April 2011, and which involve: (1) the marketing or promotion of goods or services; (2) the supply of goods; (3) the performance of services; and (4) any transaction or agreement entered into with a consumer for the supply of goods or performance of services. The CPA does not apply in the following circumstances: (1) where goods or services are provided to a juristic person (company; trust, partnership) that has an annual…

“This is bigger than any one person or the private sector. South Africa houses 85% of the world’s rhino, so I really believe it’s our responsibility to give back, where the animals have gone extinct. ”– Rubin Els Patricia, the last Eastern black rhino in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, had no inkling of her significance. She had survived the country’s brutal civil war and the incursions of poachers, but as the last remnant of a 45-year-old herd (albeit with a snare wound on one of her back legs), she represented the flickering hope of a national park that had seen too much loss. After all, rhinos were extinct in Rwanda until 1957, when four females and one male were translocated from Tanzania. She had no notion that, in faraway…

“Primates can be unpopular, as they are opportunistic feeders, but they do confer some ecological benefits.” Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and Chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) are listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, but their numbers are actually dwindling due to loss of habitat. Although primates can be unpopular, as they are opportunistic feeders, they do confer some ecological benefits, so it can be advantageous to focus on some eco-friendly ways to cope with their presence. Bambelela Wildlife Care and Vervet Monkey Rehabilitation Facility, a sanctuary nestled in an idyllic valley in the Waterberg, off the Groot Nylsoog Road, is home to hundreds of rehabilitated vervet monkeys and Chacma baboons that have been injured or orphaned. Founded by Silke von Eynern, who immigrated to South Africa from Germany…

“It has been an enormous challenge to enter the wine industry. Establishing yourself successfully takes at least ten years and requires managing your cash flow in a highly disciplined way.” Seeking out the serene atmosphere and laid-back but stylish ambience of the Gabriëlskloof wine farm, visiting wine lovers and tourists will savour the experience fully once they learn a little bit more about the winery’s history. The farm is situated just a stone’s throw from the busy N2 highway near Botriver in the Western Cape’s predominantly wheat-growing Overberg region. Having sold their Middelburg Colliery in Mpumalanga towards the turn of the century, Bernhard Heyns’ romantic fixation with the wine industry got the better of him. In 2001 he bought some land near Botriver and developed the Gabriëlskloof wine farm to…

WR What role does game farming play in South Africa currently? Theo de Jager: In today’s world, food security no longer means you produce everything you consume, or consume everything you produce. The new paradigm involves producing enough of that in which you have a competitive advantage so you can exchange it for that in which you don’t have a competitive advantage. For example, until 15 years ago, we had a big coffee-producing industry, and until seven or eight years ago, we had big tea estates in South Africa. But we couldn’t compete against the Kenyans and Tanzanians. Where we can compete, however, is in terms of game ranching – it is by far the most competitive industry we have in South Africa. No-one in the world plays in our…

The Oxford dictionary defines a pioneer as “A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area” or “A person who is among the first to research and develop a new area of knowledge or activity”. The term originated in the early 16th century (as a military term denoting a member of the infantry), from the French pioneer – ‘foot soldier, pioneer’, Old French paonier, from paon, from Latin pedo, pedon or pawn. Chess is defined as a board game of strategic skill. In the opening, one moves a piece from its original square to make it more active. To redevelop a piece means to move it to a better square after it has already been developed. Efficient, effective development of one's pieces is…

The UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals address the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development, all of which are critically important for the wildlife ranching industry. This article explores the environmental SDGs and subsequent articles will explore the social and economic SDGs. The short title for SDG 15 is ‘Life on Land’. The goal’s aim is clearly to protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of living natural resources and their habitats. Protection includes managing forests and other terrestrial ecosystems sustainably. Restoration includes reversing land degradation and combating desertification. Promotion of sustainable use includes halting biodiversity loss. These aims are all relevant to well-managed and responsible wildlife ranches. SDG 15 includes 12 targets, most of which are…

“Wildboere is steeds bereid om ’n goeie premie vir goeie genetika en uitsonderlike diere te betaal.” Die Outjo-wildveiling is op Saterdag 29 April in samewerking met die Otjikondo-boerevereniging en Du Preez Wild by die 14de Windhoek Draught Outjo-wildsfees gehou. Mike Bredenkamp, wat die Namibiese Wildteelassosiasie verteenwoordig het, en Danene van der Westhuizen van die Namibian Professional Hunting Association het die verrigtinge met toesprake afgeskop. “Vanjaar het daar 13% meer kopers as laasjaar geregistreer, wat aandui dat boere wil koop, mits die prys sakpas is. Die tsessebe het ons verbaas met ’n prys van N$72 000 vir vroulike diere – dieselfde prys as laasjaar – en is realisties vir die spesie. As gevolg van vraag en aanbod was die pryse van die skaarswild, soos swartwitpense en bastergemsbokke, laer. “Hoewel daar baie…

The Garden Route suffered unprecedented damage and loss of life during the devastating fires that swept through the southern Cape in June. The fires burnt for almost two weeks – seven people lost their lives, more than 10 000 fled their homes, and 1 059 houses were completely destroyed. Forensic investigators suspected that arson may have caused the conflagration, made up of 26 separate fires, although this remains unconfirmed. The fires began in Plettenberg Bay and moved on to Knysna, where the suburbs of Brenton, Belvedere, Welbedacht, Nania, Eastford, Green Pastures and Knysna Heights were evacuated. It was not the first instance of devastating fire in the region – the Great Fire of 1869 was the first to be classified a national disaster in South Africa, and spread from Swellendam…

“Invasive plants, fungi or animals are not native to a specific place and they also tend to spread everywhere in large numbers rather quickly! And when they do, they cause damage to the environment, people and the economy!” The rolling rhythm of the inboard engine matches the runabout swaying on the waves. Little Barrier Island looms in the distance – 40-odd nautical miles off New Zealand’s coast. The breeze is lightly north-east, just off the port side of the bow. Every once in a while, swell breaks over the bow, light spray reaching me sitting at the stern! In the distance, gannets swarm, diving and bombarding a shoal of fish boiling the water white towards starboard. Our progress is slow, about eight knots given the current and breeze. It will…

“The analysis supports the notion that the game industry is growing at a considerable rate and is not yet showing signs of reaching a saturation point.” A mention of the words ‘colour variation’ in the context of game is likely to elicit a wide range of opinions on the subject. From laymen to experts, everyone will have an opinion and in most cases, will gladly entertain a lengthy discussion about the topic – rarely will it be avoided. Mix this term with a few others like ‘conservation’ or ‘biodiversity’ and one is likely to find people in opposing camps and engrossed in a heated debate. A reference to animals that come from a particular area often crops up. Whatever your view on the subject, one thing we can agree on…

“ Knowing how to navigate without a compass or other gadgets during the day and at night, is an essential skill every wildlife ranchers to master. ” If you are working in the African bush, knowing how to navigate without a compass or other gadgets during the day and at night, is an essential skill every wildlife rancher needs to master. Celestial navigation has always been an interest for many. It is amazing when you can look up to the heavens and discern direction based on constellations. Explorers have used the stars as a compass for millennia and if you’re out having adventures at night, you should add this skill to your arsenal. Most people understand the concept of the earth revolving around the sun and in turn, its own…