Namibia's cattle herd '2.5 million strong'

The Otjozondjupa and Ohangwena regions are home to Namibia&#039;s largest cattle populations, while Hardap and ||Karas form the heart of the country&#039;s sheep farming.This according to the national livestock census for 2021, the results of which were announced to the media last week.Namibia&#039;s national cattle herd is 2.514 million strong, with more than 1.356 million cattle - or 54% of the national herd - occurring south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF), also known as the red line.According to the livestock census, there are more than 1.157 million cattle kept north of the VCF. This is about 46% of the national herd.South of the red line, around 796 948 cattle were counted in Otjozondjupa, 299 990 in Omaheke and 126 394 in Khomas.The areas north of the VCF with the strongest cattle numbers include Ohangwena, with around 303 318 cattle. In addition, Oshikoto’s Omuthiya area is home to around 198 270 cattle. In the Zambezi Region, there are 183 069 cattle.Small livestockNamibia&#039;s sheep flock is the second largest group, with farmers south of the VCF owning more than 1.164 million sheep. In the north, around 119 313 sheep are kept.The strongest sheep-producing area is the Hardap Region, with a total of more than 486 000 sheep counted, followed by ||Karas, where the sheep population was around 340 306 strong.However, when it comes to goat numbers, farmers north of the red line boast a herd figure of 705 877, compared to the foot-and-mouth-disease-free zone, which houses 594 298.The country&#039;s strongest goat-producing areas are Omusati, with a goat population of about 232 552, followed by Otjozondjupa with 194 461 goats.North of the VCF, Oshikoto hosts a goat herd of 176 313 heads, followed by Oshana’s 117 012.Unlike sheep, the southern regions are home to far fewer goats - 86 040 in Karas and 50 982 in Hardap.Pig populationNorth and south of the red line, there are almost the same number of pigs, with a national herd of more than 93 000. Outapi is the area in the country that houses the most pigs - with a population of 17 456 "backyard pigs" in more than 600 locations.At Ondangwa, there are about 8 247 pigs and 11 332 at Eenhana.In Hardap, at smallholdings as well as at Mariental, there are also large pig farms with more than 25 000 animals.At Tsumeb and Okahandja, 6 573 and 10 250 pigs are housed respectively.

Namibia's cattle herd '2.5 million strong'

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-23

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Namibia's cattle herd '2.5 million strong'

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-23

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