In Africa, the humble cow is a symbol of wealth. The more cattle a man owns, the greater his wealth and status is within the community. Traditionally, indigenous cattle (Tuli, Nguni, Shona, Afrikaner) are exchanged as “lobola”, or “bride price”, and are otherwise kept alive for as long as is possible, only being slaughtered when unable to breed or produce milk.
The indigenous cattle will be the preferred choice for the Shangani Sanctuary, and farmers will be encouraged to cross breed for improved beef production.
Commercialization of the industry, upgrading for bigger size, faster growth and good marbling for beef consumption is done through cross breeding with imported Bos Taurus (Hereford, Sussex or Simmental) and Bos Indicus (Brahman or Beefmaster) bulls.
The indigenous breeds are naturally acclimatized to the Highveld conditions, successfully surviving droughts and hot, wet summer conditions, and have an inbuilt immunity to tick borne diseases and worm invasions. Cross bred cattle will retain this natural immunity.
The cattle will be herded during the day, and corralled – kraaled – at night, as is done traditionally.
Ecologically the cattle will take the place of buffalo within the Sanctuary, as they have similar grazing patterns.
Pezulu Abattoir will purchase at market value any cattle on offer. The value added for the Sanctuary farmer will be substantial as transport costs, auction commissions, and veterinary permits will not be required.
The cattle purchased will be inducted into the spacious, humanely operated feed pens, or go for direct slaughter.
A similar scenario is envisaged for sheep and goats.
The Shangani Sanctuary farmers traditionally grow summer dryland crops of maize, millets (mostly sorghum for porridge and rapoco for brewing beer) groundnuts, beans (sugar beans and indumba) and horticulture for their own consumption.
Virgin bush is cleared by hand, ploughed by oxen, fertilized with manure, and planted along with the arrival of the first rains in November or December. Hoeing is the traditional method of keeping weeds to a minimum, and insecticides and pesticides are unknown. Once a field is leached of its nutrients after 3 to 5 years the farmer moves onto virgin land to begin again.
Instruction in successful Conservation Farming methods will reverse this cycle by teaching farmers how to monitor and improve the soil with rotational cropping and fertilizing. Conservation Farming with its minimum tillage and residue and moisture retention techniques will successfully change the subsistence farming cycle to commercial cropping, with the added benefit of substantially increased yields on the same hectarage, year after year.
Pezulu Ranches 16,000 trees.
Makovani Estates 3500 trees
Shangani Sanctuary 1000 trees
Pezulu Ranches 25,000 trees
Makovani Estates 10,000 trees
Shangani Sanctuary 25,000 trees
In order to realise the potential of the Shangani Sanctuary, the marketing strategy is to focus on “Out of Africa safaris” which departs from the traditional safari concept in Africa.
The Shangani Sanctuary is seeking to construct five separate camps with a different theme in each camp, namely:
All camps will accommodate a maximum of 10 persons per camp at any one time, thus ensuring exclusivity.
