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Symposium Themes and Presentations

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/100284
The 8th International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, Congress for Wildlife and Livelihoods on Private and Communal Lands: Livestock, Tourism, and Spirit, was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado to encourage actions toward issues and opportunities involving private lands, their owners/operators, and cooperating public and private agencies, organizations, and businesses. These digital collections include presentations given under the nine symposium themes listed below, as well as the keynotes for each symposium theme.

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Browsing Symposium Themes and Presentations by Author "Bekker, J. L. (J. Leon), speaker"

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    Game (wildlife) meat safety: understanding the game meat supply chain and the roles of role-players in a multifaceted control environment
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Bekker, J. L. (J. Leon), speaker; Renecker, Lyle, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    As in other parts of the world, the South African game industry is expanding and game meat is finding its way in the local and international food supply chain. In order to do effective game meat control, one must have an understanding of the game meat supply chain and the stakeholders therein. The term 'food supply chain' refers to the total supply process from agricultural production, harvest / slaughter, through processing and handling of a food and its ingredients, storage and distribution up to consumption. In the case of game meat, the supply chain will include the relevant food and meat control authorities, primary producers (farmers), suppliers of feed and veterinary drugs to farmers, hunters, abattoirs, small and large scale processors, wholesale and retail, suppliers of processing materials, import and export agencies, transport and the consumer. From this it is clear that several role-players are involved, which leads to a multifaceted and fragmented food control environment. It was necessary to determine the control points essential for meat safety and the responsibilities of the role-players for the execution of these control points along the game meat supply chain. Information regarding the study was obtained through a desk top study and analysis of questionnaire responses from game farmers, hunters and national, provincial and municipal control authorities. Game meat is often entering the supply chain in an uncontrolled manner while there is a lack of a single formal framework for its operation amongst the stakeholders. To address this issue, the research looked for insight into the game meat supply chain; the differences between the game meat supply chain and the conventional meat supply chain; the respective role-players in the supply chain; and the essential meat safety control points along the supply chain. The crucial meat safety link between the supply chain and the roles of stakeholders in ensuring that safe meat is supplied to the consumer is often vague. The introduction of a mechanism to reduce the indistinctness is essential for this growing industry. The mechanism suggested relates to the establishment of a game meat safety forum whereby all role-players are involved.
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    The perception of the Millennial generation (Y-generation) consumer of game (wildlife) meat and game meat safety
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014-09) Bekker, J. L. (J. Leon), speaker; Renecker, Lyle, moderator; International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
    As in other parts of the world, one of the options for conservationists and game farmers is to channel the meat as a result of harvesting or hunting activities into the local and international food markets. Game meat is however foreign to many, especially urbanised consumers and therefore they tend not to try it as an alternative source of meat. On the other hand, younger consumers such as the millennial generation (Y generation) are seeking for healthier meat products that are free from hormones and other substances and that are more "natural". Game meat mostly provides for these requirements. According to most reports, Generation Y (Gen Y) was born between 1977 and 1994. This timeframe identifies millinial consumers between 19 and 36 years old in 2013. The millinial generation is expected to be as large and influential as the Baby Boomers, which was the generation prior to Gen Y. Information regarding the study was obtained through a desk top study and analysis of questionnaire responses from young South African meat consumers (millinials) with regards to the abovementioned topics. Millinials are the current and future consumer and have a role to play in meat choices. They are however more informed due to higher exposure to media. The research looked for insights in the millinial generations perception about hunting and the use of the meat as a source of meat and concerns regarding meat safety issues such as zoonotic diseases, microbiological contamination and meat inspection practices. The research revealed that consumers do have concerns, especially with regards to animal welfare, hunting practices, exposure to zoonotic diseases, and contamination of the meat by microorganisms and other biological, chemical and physical matter that may cause harm to the consumer. Millinials (Generation Y) are young meat consumers who are especially important for the industry because they offer an opportunity for growth in the industry. If their experience with game meat is positive, these younger consumers will develop a taste for game meat that are likely to last as over years. These younger consumers care more about brand name, quality (including safety) and will typically spend more money to purchase it. It is therefore important to understand their concerns and to use it to the benefit of the wildlife industry.