Abstract:
Game harvesting in South Africa generally leaves behind edible by-products,
which could be a low-cost source of protein for poor people in rural areas. Seven professional
and nine recreational hunters were interviewed, a game harvest and trophy hunt
attended and literature reviewed, in order to describe the food value chain for game and
ways in which edible by-products could be legally channelled into the human food chain,
rather than being left in the field for scavengers. Practices of informal vendors (n = 51)
were assessed using structured interviews, observation and microbiological analysis. In an
experiment, inspected game by-products (shinbones from impala and springbok) were
provided to eight informal traders for cooking at an informal market and microbiological
analysis was done before and after preparation. The results showed that providing edible
by-products to poor consumers appears to be culturally acceptable, affordable, accessible
and safe. A crossover from formal to informal marketing is recommended as it would
enhance traceability and safety of the product and minimise the risk of poaching. It is
suggested that methods should be developed which make the distribution of edible byproducts
to vulnerable rural communities feasible.
