Botswana’s beef industry, renowned for its high-quality, range-fed cattle, is grappling with a critical challenge: a sharp decline in its cattle population.
As a major beef exporter, particularly to the European Union, the country faces dwindling herd numbers compounded by overgrazed lands. This dual threat jeopardises its position in the international market. Seasoned veterinarian Michael Sento warns that while Botswana’s beef remains unmatched in quality, the industry’s future relies on achieving both quality and quantity—a balance the nation struggles to maintain.
In a recent podcast interview, Sento emphasised that although Botswana’s beef quality is unparalleled, the country lacks the production capacity to scale exports effectively.
“For the livestock industry to be deemed successful, two things matter; quality and numbers. Botswana has fallen short of having the required numbers,” he noted.
Botswana’s cattle population once exceeded 3 million—a figure Sento believes is necessary to sustain export quotas, particularly to European markets. However, with current numbers hovering around 1.5 million, the country is now largely irrelevant in the global beef supply chain. Sento stressed that without sufficient cattle numbers, Botswana’s ability to meet beef export targets is impossible. The low population restricts off-take, leaving only a small portion of the cattle available for sale annually.
When compared to global and regional figures, such as South Africa and Sudan, which boast cattle populations of approximately 30.1 million, Botswana’s numbers appear relatively small.
Botswana Meat Commission (BMC)
The low cattle population has significantly hindered the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) in meeting its European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) market quotas.
“When we had 3 million, our off-take was about 300,000. Now, with a population of 1.5 million, we are down to only 150,000. There are simply not enough cattle to meet demand, let alone global quotas. It does not matter what BMC does with prices; there simply are not enough cattle to sell,” he explained.
In 2019, Botswana ranked as the ninth-largest exporter of beef to the European Union, enjoying zero-tariff entry under the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement. Similar volumes were exported to South Africa and other Southern African countries. However, between 2010 and 2018, earnings from beef exports dropped from $130 million to $80 million. Botswana’s exports of fresh and chilled beef products also declined sharply, falling from $62 million in 2015 to $29 million in 2019. Since then, exports have plummeted even further.
Quality Over Quantity
“The pride surrounding Botswana beef comes from its quality, not its quantity. It is sought after by the middle class in Europe because it is known for being high-quality, organic beef. But we produce so little of it, it is surprising that this group of consumers is still actively looking for it,” he added.
However, Sento views Botswana’s renowned beef quality as a potential advantage. According to him, leveraging this quality, alongside increased cattle numbers, could help the country regain and even expand its share of the international beef market.
“It’s only then when the UK decides to shut down the Botswana market that they will realise how much they rely on our beef. If they say, ‘We receive X tons of meat from this country, and if we close them off, there will be serious supply chain issues,’ that is when Botswana’s role will truly be felt. But the bottom line is we need to raise our numbers to 3 million,” he explained.
Causes of Decline
The decline in Botswana’s cattle population is attributed to several factors, including poor grazing management, land degradation, and bush encroachment. Studies show that 40 percent of the country’s grazing lands are now unsuitable for livestock.
“Why are we degrading the land when we do not even have the numbers? It is just poor grazing management,” Sento queried.
He emphasised the importance of sustainable grazing practices, such as rotational grazing and the restoration of indigenous, palatable grasses, as essential for the industry’s survival.
“When we are not managing grass as a natural resource well, there is no way to produce quality beef,” he stated.
A Green Economy Advantage
The urgency to address these issues is heightened by the global shift toward a green economy, which has increased demand for organically raised and fed beef. Sento urged the farming community to adopt a forward-thinking approach.
“The green movement is the reason Botswana still holds a niche market in the UK. There is a strong appetite for green products in the West, and as long as we can maintain this organic, sustainable image, we will continue to have a market,” Sento pointed out.
According to Sento, the market values Botswana’s beef for its distinct taste, which is shaped by the cattle’s grazing environment and lifestyle rather than genetics. Contrary to popular belief among farmers, it is the natural environment in which the cattle are raised that gives Botswana beef its unique flavor—not its genetic makeup.
While the industry has historically focused on genetics, Sento argued that the key to producing quality beef lies in cattle grazing on Botswana’s natural pastures. This environmental advantage sets the country apart in the global beef market. However, he warned that this unique edge is at risk as grazing lands continue to degrade and farmers increasingly turn to feedlot practices.
“Our grazing lands have been overused to the point where there is no shrubbery or grass left. Farmers need to make an active effort to convert farmland back into grassland because that is the only way they can farm profitably,” he stressed.
Farming Is Underrated
Another major obstacle to revitalising the cattle industry is the disconnect between younger generations and farming. According to Sento, many young people in Botswana prioritise urban, white-collar careers over agriculture. Farming is often treated as a “side hustle” or retirement plan, resulting in a lack of dedicated farmers.
“We have no farmers. Most people are landowners, not farmers. Government programs are failing because we do not have the right people in farming,” Sento lamented.
With an aging farming population and no clear generational transition, the future of livestock farming in Botswana appears uncertain. The moraka culture, once a cornerstone of Botswana’s identity, is gradually disappearing.
According to a 2019 annual agricultural survey by Statistics Botswana, the number of cattle-raising households declined by 13.2 percent, dropping from 33,819 in 2017 to 29,355 in 2019. This reflects a reduced engagement in cattle farming.
Although youth make up a large percentage of Botswana’s population, their involvement in cattle farming remains minimal. In 2019, only 5.3 percent of traditional farmers nationwide were aged between 15 and 35, while 34.9 percent were 65 years or older.
“Even with high unemployment, the youth shun farming. For them, farming is not profitable,” Sento observed.
He added that Botswana urgently needs to transform its farming sector by encouraging “real” farmers who view agriculture as a primary livelihood rather than a hobby. Farming, he argued, has been unfairly stigmatised as a backward activity associated with the poor and uneducated. Yet, many small-scale farmers possess exceptional grazing management skills rooted in indigenous knowledge. Unfortunately, these farmers struggle to access resources like affordable feed, with government subsidies often favoring middle-class individuals who treat farming as a pastime.
