NCA livestock producers on a roll

ELLANIE SMIT

WINDHOEK



Latest statistics indicate that after three years of being in limbo (2015 to 2018) the marketing offtake of cattle in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) has increased by 40%.

This follows the resumption of the formal market in 2018.

Overall, 5 191 cattle were marketed at auctions and for local slaughter in 2019, compared to 2 997 in 2018.

This an increase of 42.27%, which is mainly attributed to the severe drought situation that affected the Namibian meat industry during 2019.



Serious challenges

The NCA livestock and meat industry has been experiencing serious marketing challenges, said the Meat Board's marketing officer in Oshana, John Utoni. This is due to a number of factors such as the separation of the NCAs from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)-recognised foot and mouth disease (FMD)-free zone through the veterinary cordon fence (VCF).

Another factor is the 2015 outbreak of FMD in the protection zone and the subsequent closure of the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs in 2016.



Back to work

Utoni said NCA livestock producers are back in business.

He added there was a 6.61% increase in cattle numbers marketed at auctions during January to December last year compared to the same period during 2018, and an increase of 8.01% in cattle not sold at NCA auctions in 2019 compared to 2018.

This is also attributed to the drought.

In 2018, 21 auctions were held and 1 752 cattle sold, with a total turnover of more than N$12 million.

The following year, 22 auctions were held and 1 876 cattle were sold, with a total turnover of N$10.5 million.

Meanwhile, there was a 62.44% increase in cattle numbers slaughtered at NCA local abattoirs from 1 245 to 3 315, while the average cattle price per head also increased by 13.5%.

These statistics were obtained from the Ondangwa town council abattoir, Ohangwena Save retail outlet abattoir, the Meatco mobile slaughter unit (MSU), the Oshakati-Eloolo abattoir and northern abattoir.



Cattle slaughtered

The MSU conducts slaughtering in Kavango East and is stationed at the Matumbo Rebibe quarantine station.

For the period February to December 2019, a total of 1 171 cattle, valued at more than N$6.8 million, were slaughtered. These cattle were supplied by 126 producers and out of the 1 171 cattle, 637 were B grade, representing almost 54% of total slaughtering.

Utoni said this is proof that the general quality of cattle increased significantly due to persistent training and advisory services provided by the Meat Board mentorship programme.

“The government, through the agriculture ministry, has built new abattoirs in Eenhana, Rundu and Outapi, and renovated the Oshakati and Katima Mulilo abattoirs.

“All these interventions are aimed at creating diversified marketing opportunities both in the domestic and export markets for meat originating in the NCAs through the value chain,” he said.