Newsletter No 21 - December, 2004
1. Annual General Meeting
2. Membership
3. What is our Competition
4. CL Report from Australia
5. News from South Africa
1. Annual General Meeting
The second annual general meeting of the World Ostrich Association was held on 30th November. A full report can be found at http://www.world-ostrich.org/member/pastmeet.htm (members only). The ongoing discussion through the list provide all those not able to attend further opportunity to participate in discussions. These discussions will finish on 14th December. A summary of those discussions will be posted to the web site as an appendix to the main minutes of the meeting.
2. Membership
The association has completed it's second anniversary and the bulk of renewals. The directors are delighted to report a very high level of renewals and a good number of new members who joined during the year, including many larger operations therefore our membership represents a high proportion of the global production.
The following graphic is a breakdown of the membership and demonstrates that our membership represents all parts of the world.
A Map and definition of the zones can be found at http://www.world-ostrich.org/regions.htm
The zones were set up by the founding directors with geographical boundaries being the determining factor. They are open to suggestions from members if there is a belief that the zones could be improved upon to take into consideration such things as cultural or marketing reasons.
3. What is our competition?
Many of you will have read the reports published in the USDA Farm Policy 2001. Figure one shows that Commercial farms in the United sates make up 8% of all farms, produce 68% of the total output of all agricultural production on only 29% of the land.
In last months Newsletter I referenced the tremendous pressure from supermarkets and their influence in changing the global supply of our food production. Anabel Evans, Editor of Pig Progress reported that in France an analysis of the structure revealed that 43,500 farms (73% of the total) have less than 100 pigs, while 65% of the pig population are managed on units (8% of the total) with more than 1,000 places. The editorial carries a discussion on economies of scale and the final words of the speaker:
"I am not saying you need need to be at 25,000 sows, but I do believe that producers will need to market and coordinate their production systems much like a 25,000 sow pod to enhance their revenue. They must work together to maximise their revenue of pork pounds."
Why are these statistics important to Ostrich production?
Ostrich production, has developed with many starting with just a small number of breeders and no support infrastructure in place. The South African Ostrich industry held their first ostrich industry conference in 2001. I attended both the first and second conference, held in October 2002. A report that I wrote at the time will form a supplement to his newsletter so the following can be read in context. In summarising the opening speakers I listed a number of comments made by the speakers, this is just one of those comments:
Quote: "Suggested that competition will be from outside SA…so stop competing with each other". End Quote
To ensure our industry moves forward, please think of this statement in the context of understanding the size of our industry and recognising that our competition is not with each other.
Our competition is with the mainstream production specie.
4. CL Report from Australia
The following overview of the industry in Australia has been submitted by Bert Rayner, Country Liaison for Australia:
Quote
Due to low returns on meat and leather over the last three years many have left the industry. Many poor quality Breeders have been culled and the remaining farmers have excellent stock and achieve good results. The 'disease' problems in South Africa have had a direct positive impact on pricing from Australia and this should remain until the ban on south African export is lifted. It will take longer for higher skin prices to filter through.
Through selection and the use of Tanzanian Red, Zimbabwe Blue, African Black and Australian Grey genetics, Australia has managed to produce birds with high growth rates, high production and high survivability. Many birds reach 90-100 kg at 9 months and the quickest growers achieve 90 kg at 7 months. Meat colour appears to be substantially 'lighter red' at a younger age and favourable comments on meat quality have been received with many repeat orders on fresh meat.
Exact numbers are difficult to ascertain (as is the case all over the world) but the industry is stabilising and will definitely expand again.
The huge saving on feed and management costs by processing birds at 9-10 months instead of 12-14 months are fairly obvious. It also appears the skin grades are good at 9-10 months and we also have found that the introduction of the Red and Blue genetics have the quill large enough and acceptable in the market place. end quote
5. News from South Africa
The Board of Directors of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber held their Annual General Meeting on 9 November, during which Mr Gerrie Oberholzer was elected as chairman. He will be taking over the position of chairman from Stefan Maree, who had been in the chair for two consecutive terms.
Gerrie is Managing Director of Swartland Ostriches, Managing Director of Roelcor Meat, Chairman of NOPSA (National Ostrich Processors of South Africa) as well as Chairman of the Red Meat Abattoir Association. He has been the Vice-chairman of the SAOBC for the past year.
The new Vice-chairman is an ostrich farmer from Oudtshoorn, Viljee Keller.
Farewell was bid to Stefan Maree during the meeting. A certificate of merit was presented to him for his unselfish devotion to the ostrich industry over a long period.
Stefan was also Chairman of the South African Ostrich Producers’ Organisation (SAOPO) and Saag Jonker, replaces him as chairman.
Full report and photographs can be viewed at http://www.saobc.co.za/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=39
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