VKU 250 – FULL LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY MASTER NOTES
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES (EXAM ROADMAP)
You must be able to:
• Describe the organisation of the SA livestock industry
• Identify trends in livestock numbers
• Identify major sectors + GDP contribution
• Report per capita consumption (P.C.C.)
• Link livestock species to provinces
• Define livestock sectors
IMPORTANT: If it’s listed here → it WILL be tested.
2. CONTEXT OF AGRICULTURE
Key facts:
• SADC population: 363 million (2020)
• South Africa:
o 32,000 commercial farmers
o 12,000 produce 80% of output
o 2 million small-scale farmers
Meaning:
• Agriculture is unevenly distributed
• Commercial farmers dominate production
Memory:
“Few farmers → most output”
3. VALUE CHAIN (VERY IMPORTANT)
Definition:
A value chain is:
The full range of activities needed to produce a product
FULL PROCESS:
1. Production (farm)
2. Harvesting & transport
3. Primary processing
4. Secondary processing
5. Packaging & distribution
6. Retail
, ROLE PLAYERS (EXAM TRICK)
• Farmers
• Input suppliers
• Logistics companies
• Processors
• Retailers
Example:
Cow → Abattoir → Processing → Packaging → Supermarket
Memory:
“Produce → Process → Package → Sell”
4. LIVESTOCK DEFINITION
Livestock are domesticated animals used to:
• Provide labour
• Produce food/products:
o Meat
o Milk
o Eggs
o Wool
o Leather
Extra:
• Provide income
• Improve food security
5. DOMESTICATION
Definition:
Adapting wild animals for human use by controlling care and reproduction
Characteristics:
• Genetically different
• More human-friendly
• Dependent on humans
Domestication syndrome:
• Smaller skull
• Colour variation
• Less aggressive
Categories:
• Pets
• Livestock
• Work animals
1. LEARNING OUTCOMES (EXAM ROADMAP)
You must be able to:
• Describe the organisation of the SA livestock industry
• Identify trends in livestock numbers
• Identify major sectors + GDP contribution
• Report per capita consumption (P.C.C.)
• Link livestock species to provinces
• Define livestock sectors
IMPORTANT: If it’s listed here → it WILL be tested.
2. CONTEXT OF AGRICULTURE
Key facts:
• SADC population: 363 million (2020)
• South Africa:
o 32,000 commercial farmers
o 12,000 produce 80% of output
o 2 million small-scale farmers
Meaning:
• Agriculture is unevenly distributed
• Commercial farmers dominate production
Memory:
“Few farmers → most output”
3. VALUE CHAIN (VERY IMPORTANT)
Definition:
A value chain is:
The full range of activities needed to produce a product
FULL PROCESS:
1. Production (farm)
2. Harvesting & transport
3. Primary processing
4. Secondary processing
5. Packaging & distribution
6. Retail
, ROLE PLAYERS (EXAM TRICK)
• Farmers
• Input suppliers
• Logistics companies
• Processors
• Retailers
Example:
Cow → Abattoir → Processing → Packaging → Supermarket
Memory:
“Produce → Process → Package → Sell”
4. LIVESTOCK DEFINITION
Livestock are domesticated animals used to:
• Provide labour
• Produce food/products:
o Meat
o Milk
o Eggs
o Wool
o Leather
Extra:
• Provide income
• Improve food security
5. DOMESTICATION
Definition:
Adapting wild animals for human use by controlling care and reproduction
Characteristics:
• Genetically different
• More human-friendly
• Dependent on humans
Domestication syndrome:
• Smaller skull
• Colour variation
• Less aggressive
Categories:
• Pets
• Livestock
• Work animals
