Assessing the potential of beef cattle farming as contributor to income of communal households of Chief Albert Luthuli municipality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

The study was conducted across four rural communities of Chief Albert Luthuli municipality in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to assess the contribution of beef cattle farming to household income in Chief Albert Luthuli municipality of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Data wereanalyzeddescriptively. Simultaneously, multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting the contribution of beef cattle in household income in the study area. Results showed that 50% each of both the male and female farmers were engaged in beef cattle farming. 50.5% of respondents were more than 51 years old and therefore not in productive age with 40% of respondents aged between 41–50 years old. 7% of respondents have 1–2 dependents, while 11.5% of respondents have 3–4 dependents and 35.5% have more than 4 dependents. However, 46% of respondents have other dependents which they did not specify. 22.5% of respondents have 1–10 years of beef cattle farming experience while 14% have 11–12 years of experience. However, 21% of respondents have more than 20 years of experience and 39.5% have 50–60 years of experience on beef cattle farming. 40.5% of respondents acquired grade 11 or below and 45% of respondents had no school education, elementary school, junior high school, and senior high school. The contribution of beef cattle farming to household's income in communal areas of Chief Albert Luthuli is 19%. Also, number of beef cattle and age of mortality hold significant influence on the farmer ’s income from beef cattle.