Despite considerable challenges, and the high risk of renewed bird flu outbreaks, the South African poultry industry believes 2025 should be a good year for farmers.
“The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) is optimistic about 2025, although the industry continues to grapple with significant challenges and uncertainties, with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) remaining the most pressing concern,” SAPA said in a statement.
“The domestic poultry industry is a R65-billion strategic national asset – the second largest agricultural sector, while being the largest employer, employing almost 58,000 South Africans across the value chain.
“The industry has made significant investments to increase its slaughter capacity from 19.5 million birds per week, to 22.5 million birds per week, although it’s currently only slaughtering 21.5 million each week. The idle capacity is due to certain farms still recovering from the 2023 HPAI outbreaks, many farmers not willing to overextend themselves in case of inevitable future outbreaks, and imports.
“As the year unfolds, key issues such as the rollout of vaccination programmes, compensation for culling, fluctuating trade dynamics, and rising feed costs driven by a stronger dollar/weaker rand dominate the agenda.”
Despite these challenges, it said, “the industry is resilient and committed to navigating the complexities of the year ahead”.
