The South African goat farming industry faces major regulatory and market challenges, limiting small-scale farmers’ access to formal markets. This hinders the industry’s growth and sustainability.
Goat farming expert and founder of Aphamo Boerdery, Andrew Aphane, highlighted several gaps in government policies that make it difficult for small-scale and communal farmers to access formal markets.
While the goat industry falls under several existing laws, including the Animal Disease Act of 1984 and the Meat Safety Act of 2000, Aphane noted that these regulations do not adequately address the specific needs of goat farmers.
Goat industry overlooked
“If you consider the Meat Safety Act of 2000 and you go back and look at the availability of abattoirs, they are unavailable. There are only a few abattoirs that cater for goats, especially in rural areas where goats are concentrated. That’s a big problem for small-scale and communal farmers breeding goats,” Aphane said.
A 2024 report by the National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) highlighted the crucial role goats play in the country’s agricultural sector, despite often being overlooked compared to other livestock.
According to the report, Africa has the second-largest goat population after Asia, with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region accounting for an estimated 38 million goats. The report further states that South Africa is the leading goat producer in the SADC region, contributing 56% of the total goat population.
“In resource-poor areas and among impoverished families, goats serve as the main or secondary source of income. Goats are one of the agricultural commodities that contribute less to the recorded economy and trade of South Africa. However, in real terms, many goats are sold daily in informal markets,” the report stated.
Lack of pricing structures for goat farmers
According to Gauteng goat farmer Vuyisile Yende, an influx of goats from red zone areas – regions barred due to disease concerns – has led to an oversupply in the market, significantly driving down prices.
“The main challenge currently is the overflooding of goats in the market, where goats from the red zone (barred area) are allowed in the market to be sold at a low rate. This cripples the business,” she said.
Beyond market saturation, economic instability has further compounded the difficulties faced by goat farmers. Yende noted that rising financial pressures have forced many consumers to scale back on traditional ceremonies, which are a primary market for informal goat sales.
“People have resorted to minimising ceremonies that require goats, opting to use chickens instead or not holding the ceremony at all. These ceremonies are our biggest contributors to profits,” Yende explained.
Aphane raised concerns about the absence of a clear carcass classification system for goat meat, which results in inconsistent pricing and financial disadvantages for small-scale farmers.
“We are sitting with poor price structures. Particularly for small-scale farmers, without formalised structures, they will be exploited. Why should I slaughter my goat for R110 per kilogram, while I can sell it for R18 000 as a live goat, or even R20 000 or a million rand?” he said.
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Despite growing consumer interest, Aphane noted the lack of proper pricing structures remains a major obstacle to the industry’s development.
According to Aphane, the South African government plays a critical role in supporting the goat industry. He believes more investment is needed in infrastructure, genetic improvement programmes, and health management for goats.
” A goat identification system we need that. You hear people pushing more for a cattle identification system, but you don’t see much focus on goat traceability,” he said.
Barriers and potential solutions
While government intervention is crucial, Aphane also highlighted the role of the private sector and aggregation models in addressing these challenges. Aggregation models involve grouping small-scale farmers to collectively supply larger markets, which could help improve access to formal trading channels.
A 2021 report from the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development acknowledges the dominance of the informal market in South Africa’s goat industry. The report emphasised the need for educational efforts to promote the financial value of goat farming.
“The commercial goat meat market remains small, with only 0.55% of goats slaughtered in the formal sector, mainly comprising Boer goats and surplus Angora goats. Small-scale farmers do not see goats as a saleable commodity. They see them as financial security. There is a perception that goats are a poor man’s animals,’ the report stated.
The report confirmed that while the informal market is thriving, the South African goat industry could benefit from better organisation and formalised marketing structures.
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