Are you ready to add zebra meat to your Saturday afternoon braai?
New evidence from animal scientists at Stellenbosch University shows that zebra meat is ideal for consumption.
Producing some of the leanest meats in the world, with an average of 0.5g of fat per 100g and high levels of protein, zinc, iron, vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids, studies show that zebra meat is ideal for humans.
But most importantly, extra protein right?
Scientists at the University said the new findings come as the government puts the finishing touches to South Africa’s new game meat strategy, Business Insider reported.
The strategy is set on aiming at formalising, transforming and expanding the industry dominated by impala, springbok, kudu, wildebeest and blesbok.
Angelique Myburgh, a student at Stellenbosch University, realised that little research had been done into zebras as a source of food. She launched her study with the assistance of lecturer Helet Lambrechts and the then-head of Stellenbosch’s animal sciences department, Louw Hoffman.
According to the researcher, the animals harvested in the winter yielded more protein, probably due to seasonal differences in diet and foraging behaviour.
She added that zebras have other factors in their favour besides a good yield of healthy meat.
They are physiologically and behaviourally adapted to survive in semi-arid conditions with low-quality forage. They are good candidates for mixed-species farming.
“They can be maintained at higher stocking densities than similar-sized ruminants in grasslands of poor nutritional quality,” she said.
In July, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published a draft game meat strategy, which says zebras comprise 4.4% of South Africa’s game population.
And if you’re now looking to add zebra meat to your diet, a KwaZulu-Natal butcher who stocks zebra meat lists prices on its website as R105/kg for goulash, R110/kg for steak and R190/kg for fillet.
Compiled by Mashudu Mabila
Pictured Above: A zebra
Image Source: Kariega Game Reserve
