This episode was recorded at the 2025 PetFood Forum event in Kansas City, Missouri.
Episode 3: Exploring Fresh African Game Meat in Pet Food for a Novel, Sustainable Approach to Nutrition
Timestamps:
Panelists introduce themselves and their backgrounds (00:56)
First, Angelique shares details about her company, Montego Pet Nutrition, and explains what they do. The company operates in the Karoo area of South Africa, known for its large herds of springbok. Springbok meat once served as a major export to the EU, but a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2011 triggered an export ban that severely impacted the springbok industry.
Next, South Africa released a game meat strategy in 2023 but overlooked the pet food industry. Montego Pet Nutrition focuses on using byproducts from game meat intended for human consumption, emphasizing the need to integrate game meat into pet food strategies. Angelique’s presentation at Petfood Forum highlights how Africa can contribute to the evolving pet food protein landscape. (6:48)
Transitioning to processing challenges, Gail asks how to process such a wide variety of game animals. Angelique explains that most farmers harvest animals on-site and then transport carcasses to processing plants. She describes regulatory oversight for harvest and processing and outlines goals for better utilization of offal, which often remains on farms. She emphasizes strategies for prioritizing game meat processing in the pet food industry. (11:07)
Moving on to market trends, Dr. Altom shares examples of why novel proteins like game meat appeal to the pet market, especially for animals with allergy or inflammation issues. The panel explores other game meat species considered for pet food worldwide. They note that incorporating game meat into pet food offers diverse options for pet diets. (14:40)
Shifting to sustainability, the panel discusses sustainability and how game meat initiatives could help feed Africa’s growing population. However, the export ban still applies to fresh frozen antelope meat; only ostrich, crocodile, and zebra can be exported. The group also examines consumer perception and market potential. (25:05)
Finally, Angelique explains that they market their antelope product under the brand Karoo Wild, using the tagline “reward, revive, and rewild.” These products capture the essence of incorporating game meat into pet food formulations. (32:46)
To conclude, panelists share their take-home thoughts, emphasizing the strategic incorporation of game meat in pet food. (35:32)
Conclusion
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