South African red meat prices have dropped significantly during the past year, according to Koos van der Ryst, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation.
He said lamb prices had decreased 15,3% to R68,86/kg for Class B lamb, while beef producer prices had declined 0,5% to R45,97/kg for Class A beef. “This is good news for consumers, given the price increases in other food products. For example, bread and grain prices rose 8,6%, and fresh produce about 4,3% during the same period.”
Agricultural economist Dr Johan Willemse ascribed the lower prices to the foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreak, the drought in the Northern Cape, North West and Namibia, and red meat imports from Botswana. South Africa had been exporting between 4 000t and 5 000t of red meat a month before…