Dr. Maria Soriano, representing Biovet S.A. Laboratories, visited some of the main poultry companies in South Africa between April 1 and 5. With a strong presence in America, Europe and Asia, Biovet plans to increase the commercialization of products for animal health and nutrition in the African continent, being its southernmost country one of the most important in terms of livestock production.

The South African poultry industry, in particular, has a prominent role in the animal production of that country. With an approximate of 983 million chickens slaughtered during 2018, this sector represents approximately 33% of animal production nationwide, which makes it the most important when analyzed in terms of productive value.

South Africa is the largest broiler producer among the countries in its closest geographical environment, with approximately 80% of the region’s production. As occurring in other latitudes, chicken meat remains the most affordable source of animal protein for the South African consumer, followed by beef.

Recent evolution of the South African poultry industry

South Africa’s poultry industry has experienced rapid growth over the past decade. In turn, this transformation has also led to significant changes in the way of production and processing, as well as in the commercialization of the final product and its subsequent consumption.

Although during the first years of the last decade this sector experienced a sustained growth and contained production costs, the national poultry industry has suffered a decrease in demand in recent years.

This phenomenon is due, in large part, to the loss of competitiveness in relation to imported products, the increase in production costs and the decrease in the average disposable income of the national consumer, as a result of the economic difficulties that the country has gone through in the last years. South Africa is the second largest economy in the African continent, after Nigeria.

Current production challenges

In 2017, an outbreak of the highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5N8 avian flu was detected in some farms in the country. This fact raised the alarm of the South African poultry industry and health authorities who chose to slaughter the affected animals, drastically decreasing the avian stock in that year. At present, the highly pathogenic strain has been eradicated and only strains of low pathogenicity are found in the country.

In general terms, the national poultry industry presents the same common problems of the sector in the world. On the one hand, local authorities will soon ban the use of formaldehyde, used locally as a preservative for animal feed and raw materials. In foreseeing this situation, Dr. Soriano informed national producers about the use and action of the natural preservative Alquermold Natural, which with its fungicidal and bactericidal properties is an indicated alternative to control fungi and bacteria in raw materials as well as in the intestinal tract. Thus, avoiding the appearance of intestinal pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli or Clostridium, among others.

Representatives of the South African poultry industry highlighted Deoxynivalenol (DON) amongst the most frequent mycotoxins appearing in raw materials. To counteract its effects, Dr. Soriano explained the properties of the mycotoxin-binder based on Silicoglicidol, Alquerfeed Antitox, thanks to which mycotoxins are not absorbed by the animal’s organism, travelling through the intestinal tract without causing enteritis.

On the other hand, Biovet’s suggestion for a better environmental control of animal production facilities in the South African market goes through the use of Alquernat Yucca, which thanks to its multiple action acts as a natural deodorizer and intestinal regulator. The saponins and glycocomponents present in the extract of Yucca spp., combined with cimenol ring, reduce the formation of intestinal gases and the presence of ammonia in the environment.