Commercial game farming is South Africa’s sixth-largest agricultural sector, generating 10 billion rand a year and employing an estimated 100,000 people, and fences are playing an important role in the industry.
The Game Theft Act of 1991 conveyed ownership of game animals to landowners whose properties are adequately fenced, leading to spectacular growth, firstly in stocking ranches, then in breeding improvements.
This is now moving into the production, harvesting, processing and marketing of game meat, locally and internationally.
All phases require an investment in sturdy, reliable fencing to keep the increasingly valuable animals in, and poachers out.
Thithombo Game Breeders co-owner Ellis Lourens has divided his 3000 hectare property in Limpopo Province into 18 paddocks, which he rotationally grazes and reseeds with grass.
He’s invested in 80km of fencing at a cost of R100,000 or nearly A$10,000 a kilometre.
Fences have 24 plain wires, five offset 9000 volt electrified wires on each side, and jackal fencing at the bottom.
Ellis said this brought about misperceptions that animals were locked in pens, when in reality they still had vast ranges to roam on.
“It’s not the old Africa anymore; it’s not ideal but it’s what we do to protect our animals,” he said.