Farmers producing grass-fed beef must pay heavily for certification – expert

Although only 5% of South Africa’s beef is produced away from feedlots, getting official “grass-fed” certification for small holder farmers is a struggle with the Department of Agriculture. So says Mpumelelo Ncwadi, co-founder of the Indwe Trust; an organisation working to strengthen smallholder farmers in South Africa.

According to Ncwadi, 95% of South Africa’s beef is produced on feedlots where animals are fattened with maize-based food (unnatural to cows whose natural diets should be grass-only) and antibiotics.

Here’s why gaining a “grass-fed” certification from the Department of Agriculture is a struggle for small holder farmers.

Source: news24

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