High infrastructure costs, limited access to finance, disease risks and market barriers continue to hold back South Africa’s emerging pig farmers. The South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO) is working to help producers overcome these obstacles through training, mentorship, technical support and business development. African Farming spoke to Kgadi Senyatsi, head of Business Development at SAPPO, about the challenges facing developing pig farmers and what it takes to build sustainable commercial enterprises.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
What are the biggest structural barriers preventing emerging South African pig farmers from transitioning to commercial-scale production, and how is SAPPO helping them overcome these challenges?
The biggest challenge is access to finance. Developing piggery infrastructure is very costly, and many small-scale producers struggle to access the funding they need.
The high capital requirements, as well as relatively low returns during the early stages of production, make it difficult for many producers to secure sufficient finance to expand their enterprises.
SAPPO’s Farmer Development Programme and Business Development unit assist producers through mentorship, training and technical support, helping them build the knowledge and business capacity required to develop sustainable commercial operations.
SAPPO Academy focuses significantly on digital learning. How do you ensure online education is complemented by the practical, hands-on experience aspiring pig farmers need?
SAPPO Academy does not focus exclusively on online training. Our training mandate is delivered through a combination of methodologies.
Online training is particularly useful for aspiring farmers who do not have access to farms or pigs for practical training. Given the biosecurity risks associated with moving between piggeries, the online platform provides an opportunity to demonstrate practical activities through videos recorded inside commercial piggeries.
This is particularly valuable for people who have no access to a piggery where they can gain practical experience.
In addition, SAPPO conducts on-farm training for both farmers and their workers. We also facilitate several study groups that provide opportunities for information sharing, particularly for producers and aspiring farmers whose farms we are unable to visit regularly.
African swine fever (ASF) remains a significant threat to the pig industry. What practical biosecurity measures does SAPPO teach new farmers, particularly those operating with limited infrastructure and resources?
Basic biosecurity measures are critical for preventing disease-causing organisms from entering a farm.
A biosecurity fence is important not only to prevent unauthorised people from entering the farm but also to keep out unwanted animals that could introduce or spread diseases.
Farmers are also advised not to feed swill containing meat products to pigs, as this can create a serious disease risk, particularly in relation to ASF.
Vehicles used to transport pigs must be thoroughly washed and disinfected between loads and, most importantly, before returning to the farm. Farmers should also provide dedicated footwear for use on the farm to reduce the risk of bringing pathogens onto the premises.
With feed costs and other production expenses putting pressure on profitability, what advice do you give new pig farmers on managing costs, protecting margins and maintaining sustainable cash flow during the early years?
It is all about efficiency, and the best efficiencies are achieved through a combination of different factors. We refer to these as the “golden rules”, which need to be applied together.
The use of superior genetics remains important in ensuring the profitability of a pig enterprise. Genetics must, however, be combined with a well-balanced diet that meets the nutritional requirements of pigs at different stages of production.
With good genetics and proper feeding strategies, pigs must also be housed in structures that protect them from extreme temperatures that can negatively affect production performance.
The following golden rules remain important:
- Biosecurity: Implement measures to prevent disease-causing organisms from entering the farm.
- Feeding and nutrition: Ensure pigs receive feed that meets their nutritional requirements at each production stage.
- Housing and infrastructure: Provide suitable housing that protects pigs from extreme temperatures and supports good production performance.
- Genetics: The number of pigs sold per sow per year, as well as the amount of meat produced per sow, plays a major role in profitability.
- Health: Healthy pigs are productive pigs. Maintaining good herd health throughout the production cycle is essential.
- Welfare: The comfort and welfare of pigs directly influence their growth and performance.
- Stockmanship: When workers are valued, supported and motivated, they are more likely to perform at their best.
Consumer expectations and market requirements continue to evolve. How is SAPPO preparing the next generation of pig farmers to meet modern standards around animal welfare, environmental sustainability, food safety and commercial quality?
Through SAPPO’s consumer education division, which serves as the industry’s marketing support platform, SA Pork provides a comprehensive range of resources to promote pork across different sectors.
These include high-quality recipes, images and videos for marketing and promotional activities, as well as educational material covering pork’s nutritional value, myth-busting information and other facts about pork.
SA Pork also provides a dedicated online portal offering free marketing assets tailored to butcheries, processors and retailers.
To ensure that these initiatives remain effective, SA Pork continuously measures and tracks the impact of its campaigns. Retail sales data and the effectiveness of in-store promotions are analysed to identify changes in consumer purchasing behaviour and emerging demand trends.
Also read and watch:
WATCH | Keeping piglets warm
Ask the vet | Blue ear syndrome in pigs
Sappo academy celebrates new graduates and showcases township market opportunities
