Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
- For over 10 000 years, information has played a vital role in refining cattle since their domestication by modern humans.
- This ongoing transformation is driven by the application of information and technology, among others.
- One of the primary challenges facing beef producers is the rising cost of inputs, which significantly erodes profit margins.
- Scientific technologies have demonstrated impressive returns on investment, ranging from 3:1 to as high as 10:1.
- It is essential to recognise that performance recording data underpins many of the innovations driving the sector forward.
For over 10 000 years, information has played a vital role in refining cattle since their domestication by modern humans. Today, the world recognises more than 250 breeds of cattle. These breeds continue to evolve because of several factors, including through both artificial and natural selection, ensuring they thrive across diverse environmental conditions.
This ongoing transformation is driven by the application of information and technology, among others, which have become key pillars of informed decision-making and sound breeding programmes. By harnessing these tools, we improve the genetic potential of our herds, a vital aspect that promotes the resilience needed to meet the demands of the industry and an ever-changing environment.
The bigger picture
To fully understand both the untapped opportunities and pressing challenges within our industry, it is essential to put the ‘bigger picture’ of our beef industry into perspective.
In 2023, South Africa’s beef industry – comprising over 12 million cattle – contributed around R41 billion to the overall red meat industry, with a gross value of production (GVP) of R426,44 billion. According to industry leaders, there is potential to boost the GVP by an additional R8,3 billion annually and introduce up to 250 000 more weaner calves into the market each year by the end of the decade.
South Africa’s beef production reached nearly 780 000 tons in the 2024 calendar year, reflecting growth of over 7% compared to 2023. Of all animal protein consumed by South Africans, 26% comprised beef, 49% poultry, 13% eggs, 7% pork, and 5% mutton and goat. In 2020, the per capita annual beef consumption was approximately 18kg.
In 2023, we imported over 268 000 live cattle from Botswana and Namibia. Despite this, South Africa remains a net exporter of beef, with major international markets including Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and China. The rising demand for our high-quality, premium beef, both locally and abroad, is creating new opportunities for market expansion and driving increased profitability.
Challenges abound
Widely acknowledged as among the best in the world, our producers play a vital role in safeguarding national food security amid an ever-evolving market and environment. Their contribution is especially critical given projections that our population will reach 70 million by 2050.
One of the primary challenges facing beef producers is the rising cost of inputs, which significantly erodes profit margins. This issue is compounded by animals that underperform or fail to generate returns due to poor or suboptimal genetic potential. Additional factors impacting sustainability and profitability include the prevailing economic conditions and related market fluctuations, the health status of our livestock, and climate variability that affects the availability of feed and water.
The smaller picture
Many regard farming as a partnership with nature. However, to truly understand and improve herd performance, we must also consider the micro-factors that influence it. For producers aiming to unlock the full genetic potential of their herds, it is essential to recognise that animal performance stems from both nature and nurture. Nurture encompasses nutrition, environmental factors (such as temperature fluctuations), disease prevalence, and overall management. Nature, by contrast, refers to the genetic makeup of the animal – an area we frequently overlook.
The fascinating and complex world of livestock genetics deserves far more attention. After all, performance can only be accurately interpreted when we consider the formula:
Phenotype (observable traits) = genotype (DNA/genetic blueprint) + environment.
The following provides a small yet important insight into nature, especially given the complexity of our animals:
Chromosomes as nature’s packaging system: In both animals and humans, genes are organised into structures called chromosomes. These chromosomes contain DNA, which in turn contains genes responsible for coding vital components essential for growth, development, survival, and performance.
Nature’s built-in diversity engine: The extraordinary power of nature to create genetic variation starts with how genes are packaged and passed on (inherited). Genetic variation forms the foundation for selecting animals with superior performance. Consider this: cattle possess 60 chromosomes per cell and carry more than 22 000 genes. A single calf born from a bull and a cow can inherit more than a million trillion (10¹⁸) possible chromosome combinations!
This staggering number highlights nature’s ability to create genetic diversity. It also underscores the immense opportunities we have to unlock and harness the genetic information within animals – paving the way for meaningful and measurable genetic improvement.
Benefits of targeted application
Livestock producers have long utilised DNA technology to gain insight into the genetic makeup of their animals, applying it across a wide range of purposes. This includes identifying animals that carry beneficial, harmful, or disease-associated mutations, such as curly calf syndrome, Pompe disease, and chromosomal translocations that can lead to reproductive challenges.
Numerous genetic markers (DNA sequences) have been discovered that link with economically important traits, including feed efficiency, feed intake, growth rate, and milk production. In addition, markers and specialised genetic tests exist to identify specific traits such as polledness and double muscling.
DNA technology is widely employed to verify the parentage of calves and to support pedigree verification and stud animal registration. It also plays a vital role in evaluating the genetic potential of livestock using genomic breeding values.
Another key application is the assessment of genetic structure and diversity within and between breeds. This provides insight into gene flow across populations, as well as levels of genetic variation and inbreeding – important indicators of population fitness, adaptability, and gene flow. These genetic indicators are essential for informed breeding, management, and conservation strategies.
Epigenetics
Recent advancements in DNA technology have highlighted the significance of epigenetics, a process by which environmental factors influence the expression of genes in both animals and humans – certain genes are either suppressed or switched on. Interestingly, many of these epigenetic changes can be transmitted to progeny over several generations.
Epigenetics are of particular importance since the expression of both human and animal genes is affected, either positively or negatively, by many factors such as stress, heat, diet, and even trauma. For example, certain dietary compounds have been found to trigger epigenetic modifications of the DNA in cattle, influencing traits such as milk production.
Understanding the effect of the environment empowers producers to make informed management decisions. Avoiding adverse conditions, such as nutrient deficiencies, can prevent negative outcomes in animal growth – a trait that may be inherited by future generations.
Nature and artificial technologies
One of the more controversial but steadily advancing applications of DNA technology is the genetic modification of animals – a field I believe will receive increasing attention in the future. This process involves artificially altering the genetic makeup of animals. It is worth noting that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are already widely used, maize being a prime example, having been genetically modified for traits such as insect resistance.
Research has demonstrated that genetic manipulation can introduce new traits or modify existing ones. Numerous studies have demonstrated successful modification of undesired or disease-causing genes, resulting in animals or humans that no longer exhibit the harmful trait or disease.
In the research environment, DNA technology is already being applied to develop animals with desirable traits. Notable examples include double-muscled calves, pigs resistant to viral infections, dairy cows that produce anti-allergic components in their milk, and pigs that process phosphate more efficiently, making them more environmentally friendly. Recently, researchers developed an Angus calf that is genetically modified to better withstand heat stress by more effectively regulating its body temperature.
Many scientists view genetic engineering and modification as promising tools to help producers confront future challenges related to both undesirable and desirable genetic traits in animals.
Why invest in technology
South Africa’s producers and farm workers rank among the finest globally, steadily harnessing data to enhance resilience, productivity, and profitability. As industry leaders have rightly emphasised: Investing in performance testing technologies is not just about raising cattle; it’s about raising the standards of excellence.
Scientific technologies have demonstrated impressive returns on investment, ranging from 3:1 to as high as 10:1, both locally and abroad. It is essential to recognise that performance recording data underpins many of the innovations driving the sector forward. Without reliable data, we lose the ability to make informed decisions, foster innovation, and develop transformative technologies. – Dr Ben Greyling, research team manager, ARC-Animal Production
Send an email to Dr Ben Greyling atben@arc.agric.za for more information.
