Livestock marketing drops as farmers rebuild herds
Good rainfall in the first quarter of 2025 has prompted farmers to begin rebuilding their herds, leading to a sharp drop in the number of animals marketed during the period.
The Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) said the sector is now facing a limited supply of market-ready animals across various marketing channels.
A total of 37,577 animals were marketed in the first quarter of 2025 – a 58% decrease from the 89 507 recorded during the same period in 2024.
The LLPB said last year’s drought had placed severe pressure on farmers, forcing many to increase cattle sales in response to harsh environmental conditions.
The livestock board said the increased marketing in 2024 had led to significant herd reductions, leaving farmers with limited market-ready animals this year.
Live exports, the largest segment in the sector, saw a sharp decline of 78.9%.
Export-approved abattoirs also recorded a drop in activity, with throughput down by 24.2%.
“While slaughtering at domestic abattoirs has been affected by the overall industry contraction, the impact has been less severe than that on live exports," the LLPB noted.
Pressures facing the sector
The board also reported a 22% decline in slaughtering at export-approved abattoirs during the quarter under review.
Meanwhile, live cattle and beef prices remained higher than those recorded during the same period last year.
The outbreak of lumpy skin disease also led to restrictions on animal movements south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF).
“These restrictions placed upward pressure on prices due to the reduced supply of animals at auctions," the LLPB reported.
As a result, weaner prices south of the VCF averaged N$29.13/kg, marking a 17.7% increase from the N$24.75/kg recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
Market shares
Year-on-year, beef exports totalled around 1.4 million kg during the period under review, a significant drop from the 2.9 million kg exported in the same period of 2024.
The majority of exports were directed to the EU, which accounted for 84.2% of the market share. Other key destinations included Norway (10.2%), the UK (3.4%), China (1.7%), and South Africa (0.8%).
The LLPB reported that in the first quarter of 2025, a total of 281 906 kg of hides and skins, in the form of bovine wet blue and processed, were exported to South Africa, Zimbabwe, the UK and China.
The LLPB also reported that hides and skin imports totalled 165 976 kg during the quarter under review.
The Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB) said the sector is now facing a limited supply of market-ready animals across various marketing channels.
A total of 37,577 animals were marketed in the first quarter of 2025 – a 58% decrease from the 89 507 recorded during the same period in 2024.
The LLPB said last year’s drought had placed severe pressure on farmers, forcing many to increase cattle sales in response to harsh environmental conditions.
The livestock board said the increased marketing in 2024 had led to significant herd reductions, leaving farmers with limited market-ready animals this year.
Live exports, the largest segment in the sector, saw a sharp decline of 78.9%.
Export-approved abattoirs also recorded a drop in activity, with throughput down by 24.2%.
“While slaughtering at domestic abattoirs has been affected by the overall industry contraction, the impact has been less severe than that on live exports," the LLPB noted.
Pressures facing the sector
The board also reported a 22% decline in slaughtering at export-approved abattoirs during the quarter under review.
Meanwhile, live cattle and beef prices remained higher than those recorded during the same period last year.
The outbreak of lumpy skin disease also led to restrictions on animal movements south of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF).
“These restrictions placed upward pressure on prices due to the reduced supply of animals at auctions," the LLPB reported.
As a result, weaner prices south of the VCF averaged N$29.13/kg, marking a 17.7% increase from the N$24.75/kg recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
Market shares
Year-on-year, beef exports totalled around 1.4 million kg during the period under review, a significant drop from the 2.9 million kg exported in the same period of 2024.
The majority of exports were directed to the EU, which accounted for 84.2% of the market share. Other key destinations included Norway (10.2%), the UK (3.4%), China (1.7%), and South Africa (0.8%).
The LLPB reported that in the first quarter of 2025, a total of 281 906 kg of hides and skins, in the form of bovine wet blue and processed, were exported to South Africa, Zimbabwe, the UK and China.
The LLPB also reported that hides and skin imports totalled 165 976 kg during the quarter under review.
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