The Eastern Cape is regarded as South Africa's livestock province with significant numbers of cattle, sheep and goats.  Domestic and foreign markets are available in terms of organic livestock production, product beneficiation and livestock bi-products (leather). 

The agricultural opportunities in the province for livestock, if harnessed, could yield significant returns in terms of the following:

• Organic meat production - organic meat supply is becoming a global trend. The Eastern Cape provides opportunities for investment in primary and secondary organic meat farming for both the domestic and international market.
• Livestock farmers - the province is looking to establish new commercial livestock enterprises. Interested investors can partner with community-based organisations and agricultural co-operatives to utilise local skill and knowledge around livestock farming in the Eastern Cape.
• Nguni Cattle farming - the Nguni Cattle Project is a project initiated by the provincial government in association with the University of Fort Hare in 2004. In the past five years the Nguni, a domestic breed which is extremely hardy and resistant to local conditions, has proved to be significantly better for local conditions than foreign breeds. In addition the Nguni hides are sought after on domestic and foreign markets for their unique patterns.
• Game farming - game farming is increasing in popularity throughout the Eastern Cape because of the hardiness of the animals and the typography of the province. Opportunities that exist include game farming linked to hunting operations, venison production, leather bi-products, mounting and stuffing of trophy animals and ostrich farming for meat and feathers.
• Meat processing - opportunities exits in the rural areas of the province to provide processing and manufacturing facilities associated with meat products and packaged meat for local, regional and international consumption. Small-scale goat-meat processing has already started in the western part of the province and is proving successful.
• Wool - wool is a major primary product of livestock farming the Eastern Cape. Opportunities exist to partner with the wool grower associations to provide support structures to this industry by way of sheering facilities, transport solutions and access to global markets.
• Sheep and goat breeding - sheep and goat breeding, as part of community agricultural development, has significant opportunities in the rural areas. Opportunities exist in supply of young sheep and goats to rural farmers, meat production, hide beneficiation and the provision of alternative breeding stock.
• Piggeries and poultry - the domestic demand for pork and chicken provides a ready-market for the establishment of urban and rural supply of pork and chicken in the Eastern Cape and South Africa as a whole.