South Africa’s poultry master plan needs urgent action.

In 2019, South Africa’s Poultry Sector Master Plan (PSMP) was launched with bold ambitions: to protect the industry from dumped imports, boost local production, grow exports, create jobs, and expand black ownership.

Six years later, while the vision still resonates, the momentum behind it is fading.

The PSMP was designed as a joint public–private effort to rebuild the country’s broiler value chain, which had suffered years of damage from unfair trade. It focused on five key pillars: enforcing trade remedies, stimulating local demand and production, expanding exports, supporting transformation, and improving governance through a dedicated oversight council.

In its early phase, the plan showed real promise. The poultry industry responded quickly, committing over R2.2 billion in new investments — surpassing the initial R1.5 billion target. Trade measures, supported by bird flu outbreaks abroad, began to reduce dumped imports, offering local producers some relief.

Major producers expanded operations, onboarded contract growers, and created jobs. Emerging farmers were integrated into formal value chains through offtake agreements, marking visible progress in transformation. These developments proved that when government and industry worked in sync, results followed.

But since the last election, progress has stalled. Responsibility for the PSMP was shifted to deputy ministers, and political attention drifted. While government leaders, including Gauteng MEC Ramokgopa and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, have reaffirmed their commitment — citing new financial packages, bird flu vaccination plans, and improved cold chains — much of it remains on paper.

Exports, a cornerstone of the plan, are still blocked by red tape. Negotiations with key markets like the EU, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have made little headway. Veterinary labs remain underfunded and understaffed, delaying health certification. As one insider put it, “Exports die in the lab. Producers are ready, but the paperwork isn’t.”

The plan also promised blended finance to help small and black-owned producers scale up. Yet funding access remains limited, and government-imposed conditions on vaccine rollouts have made key health programmes unaffordable and impractical for producers.

Ultimately, the Master Plan was never meant to be carried by the private sector alone. It’s a shared compact — one that depends on both sides delivering. The poultry industry has largely honoured its commitments. Now, government must match that effort with urgent, transparent and time-bound action.

South Africa’s poultry sector still holds massive potential — for rural jobs, food security, black empowerment and export growth. But unless government moves beyond promises to delivery, the PSMP risks becoming a cautionary tale of plans made, but not kept.

Tributyrin represents a critical advancement in gut health management.

As poultry farming continues to transition toward antibiotic-free systems, maintaining gut health has become a growing challenge.

The removal of antibiotics has led to increased issues such as dysbiosis, leaky gut, and enteric diseases, particularly during the early days of a chick’s life—a critical window for gut development and immune system establishment.

Several factors contribute to poor gut health in modern poultry systems. Feed ingredients contaminated with mycotoxins or anti-nutritional compounds can damage the intestinal lining and trigger chronic inflammation. Infections such as Clostridium perfringens and the growing resistance to anticoccidial drugs further aggravate the situation by compromising gut tissue and encouraging pathogenic growth. Environmental stressors like heat, overcrowding, transport, and feed transitions weaken the birds' natural defenses. In addition, rapid flock turnover creates instability, reducing the time for recovery and adaptation, which leaves birds more vulnerable to gut-related illnesses.

To address these challenges, nutritionists and poultry health experts are increasingly turning to biotic-based strategies. Among them, postbiotics, and in particular tributyrin, have emerged as a powerful tool for supporting gut health without the need for antibiotics. Tributyrin is a stable form of butyric acid that delivers direct benefits to the intestinal tract. It reaches the lower gut, where it plays a crucial role in strengthening the gut wall, reducing inflammation, and suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria by lowering intestinal pH. Unlike raw butyric acid, tributyrin has no offensive odor and is more effective thanks to its targeted delivery and greater stability during feed processing.

Tributyrin also enhances nutrient absorption and feed efficiency, supporting better weight gain and overall bird performance. Its unique ability to provide energy to intestinal cells while modulating the immune response makes it a valuable component in antibiotic-free poultry systems. When used alongside other biotics—such as prebiotics that feed beneficial bacteria and probiotics that introduce competitive microbes-tributyrin helps restore microbial balance and repair gut integrity from multiple angles.

The benefits of tributyrin are significantly enhanced when paired with Gastrointestinal Environment Harmonization (GEH) technology. GEH ensures controlled release and targeted action within specific regions of the gut, increasing the effectiveness of tributyrin while also protecting other biotic components through feed processing and digestion.

As the poultry industry continues to pursue sustainable and profitable production, tributyrin represents a critical advancement in gut health management. Its ability to reinforce the gut barrier, reduce inflammation, and improve performance-all without antibiotics-makes it an essential solution for modern poultry nutrition strategies focused on bird welfare, productivity, and long-term viability.

Good feed transitions support uniform growth across the flock.

In broiler production, smooth transitions between different feed types are vital for achieving strong flock performance.

Throughout their life, broilers move through different feed rations – typically starter, grower, and finisher. These feed stages also differ in texture, such as mash, crumb, or pellet. Each change is designed to meet the bird’s nutritional needs at every stage of growth.

However, if not managed correctly, these feed changes can negatively affect growth, feed intake, flock uniformity, and even carcass quality. That’s why careful feed transition practices are essential.

To manage transitions properly, introduce new feed gradually. One good approach is to top up the existing feed with the new one so they mix together. This helps birds adapt more easily. When moving from starter to grower feed, it’s not just the nutrient content that changes—feed form usually does too. Offering the first delivery of grower feed in a crumb or mini pellet form can help prevent a drop in feed intake.

Good feed transitions support uniform growth across the flock. They also maintain gut health, water intake, and reduce issues like feed flicking. These benefits contribute to consistent weight gain and better carcass quality.

Close monitoring during feed changes is key. Pay attention to the birds before, during, and after the transition. Look out for any changes in feeding or drinking behaviour. If birds eat less or seem unsettled, the feed form or nutrient density may need adjustment.

In summary, proper feed transition helps ensure broilers grow evenly, stay healthy, and reach their full performance potential. A gradual shift, correct feed form, and good observation can make all the difference in final results. Keeping transitions smooth is a small step that has a big impact on productivity and flock welfare.

Aviagen is investing in local breeding stock production within Saudi Arabia. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Aviagen is continuing to enhance its supply chain and its ‘global reach, local touch’ strategy by investing in a Grandparent (GP) operation for the production and distribution of Parent Stock (PS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)

This is a fully-owned Aviagen investment and the project is currently in the early stages of development.

Aviagen continues to recognise the strategic requirement for local, dedicated supply bases to ensure that Aviagen and all of our customers are best prepared to meet the increasing demand for poultry meat in this important, growing region. This investment will create a regional distribution hub for Aviagen brands, strengthening security of supply, and enhancing our ability to serve customers in KSA from a dedicated supply base within the region.

Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region present significant opportunities for the growth of poultry production and consumption. Aviagen is proud to support this development by investing in local breeding stock production within the Kingdom, aligning closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. With its strategic location and strong potential for industry growth, Saudi Arabia is an ideal location for this investment, providing access to key neighboring Gulf markets.

Tom Exley, President, Aviagen TMEA commented, “This strategic initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to the region, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through enhanced security of supply and tailored customer support. By investing locally, Aviagen is helping to strengthen the poultry industry and contribute to the region’s food security and economic development goals.”