Meatco targets 63,000 slaughters to regain stability
Meatco's interim CEO, Ambassador Albertus Aochamub, has announced that the corporation must slaughter 63 000 cattle in the 2026/2027 financial year to cover operating costs and restore financial stability, according to a letter to stakeholders.This target comes after a disappointing 2025 performance, in which Meatco slaughtered just under 42,000 head of cattle.
Looking ahead, the corporation has budgeted for a throughput of 50 000 cattle from south of the veterinary cordon fence (SVCF) and 13 000 from the northern communal areas (NCA), totalling 63 000.
“Achieving these volumes will be critical to covering operating costs, enabling essential capital expenditure, and returning the business to a sustainable and profitable position. As we all appreciate, cattle numbers and carcass weights remain the cornerstone of a viable red-meat industry,” Aochamub said. Meatco's priorities will include rebuilding producer trust, unlocking and securing high-value export markets, enhancing operational efficiency across all abattoirs north and south of the veterinary cordon fence, and delivering reliable, timely service at the required volumes.
Reflecting on 2025, Aochamub highlighted industry-wide challenges that prevented the corporation from meeting its objectives. “At the beginning of the year, Meatco set a slaughter target of 70,000 cattle for the period ending January 2026. However, a combination of factors impacted this. Good rainfall encouraged many producers to retain stock and focus on restocking for the 2026 season. In addition, the lumpy skin disease outbreak, which extended from late 2024 into mid-2025, further constrained marketable supply,” he said.
Looking ahead, the corporation has budgeted for a throughput of 50 000 cattle from south of the veterinary cordon fence (SVCF) and 13 000 from the northern communal areas (NCA), totalling 63 000.
“Achieving these volumes will be critical to covering operating costs, enabling essential capital expenditure, and returning the business to a sustainable and profitable position. As we all appreciate, cattle numbers and carcass weights remain the cornerstone of a viable red-meat industry,” Aochamub said. Meatco's priorities will include rebuilding producer trust, unlocking and securing high-value export markets, enhancing operational efficiency across all abattoirs north and south of the veterinary cordon fence, and delivering reliable, timely service at the required volumes.
Reflecting on 2025, Aochamub highlighted industry-wide challenges that prevented the corporation from meeting its objectives. “At the beginning of the year, Meatco set a slaughter target of 70,000 cattle for the period ending January 2026. However, a combination of factors impacted this. Good rainfall encouraged many producers to retain stock and focus on restocking for the 2026 season. In addition, the lumpy skin disease outbreak, which extended from late 2024 into mid-2025, further constrained marketable supply,” he said.
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