30% drop in livestock for sale
Import and export conditions had a severe impact on the cattle and sheep sales last year with a 30% decrease.
According to the Meat Board of Namibia, the number of cattle marketed in 2015 and 2016 shows there was a 30.3% decrease shown by a decline in sales from 423 491 to 295 217 units.
“The difference between the amount of cattle marketed in 2015 and 2016 can be attributed to the steep decline in live exports to South Africa due the veterinary import conditions implemented on 1 July 2016,” says the Meat Board.
A total number of 295 217 cattle was marketed between January to December 2016.
The live exports to South Africa accounted for 56% of the total cattle marketed and 165 927 cattle were exported.
The number of cattle slaughtered at export abattoirs accounted for 35% totalling 103 097, whereas the local abattoirs slaughtered a total of 26 193, equivalent to 9% of the total market share.
Year on year, live exports of cattle to South Africa fell from 281 965 in 2015 to 165 927 cattle last year showing a decrease of 30.1% between the two years.
According to the Meat Board, there was a more significant decrease of 98.6% in the live exports of weaners in 2016 and between June and July, the number of exports went down from 31 837 to only 2 units.
The Meat Board said that the South African import regulations had a great impact on the price offered to producers saying they were forced to accept the low prices on offer.
“As a result of the new conditions, producers' bargaining power reduced which negatively impacted their potential income that they would have obtained under different conditions.”
Overall, an average decrease of N$1.31 in the weaner auction price was observed between 2016 and 2015, as the price reduced from N$18.04/kg in 2015 to N$ 16.73/kg in 2016.
Meanwhile, a total of 680 843 sheep were marketed, of which 321 413 were slaughtered at export abattoirs.
This is a 29% reduction compared to 2015, when 961 180 sheep were marketed.
“Although both 2015 and 2016 were drought years, the decrease in the total of sheep marketed in 2016 compared to 2015 can specifically be attributed to the decrease in the number of sheep exported between these two years.”
In 2015, 437 229 live sheep were exported whereas only 290 383 were exported live in 2016.
This reduction, the Meat Board says, is also a result of the import conditions which reduced the number of exports in June 2016 from 56 881 to 7 588 live exports in July 2016.
“Given the various challenges such as climatic conditions, the price of sheep skin and low slaughtering numbers, there is a need to ensure that the sheep sector is not compromised and disadvantaged.”
ELLANIE SMIT
According to the Meat Board of Namibia, the number of cattle marketed in 2015 and 2016 shows there was a 30.3% decrease shown by a decline in sales from 423 491 to 295 217 units.
“The difference between the amount of cattle marketed in 2015 and 2016 can be attributed to the steep decline in live exports to South Africa due the veterinary import conditions implemented on 1 July 2016,” says the Meat Board.
A total number of 295 217 cattle was marketed between January to December 2016.
The live exports to South Africa accounted for 56% of the total cattle marketed and 165 927 cattle were exported.
The number of cattle slaughtered at export abattoirs accounted for 35% totalling 103 097, whereas the local abattoirs slaughtered a total of 26 193, equivalent to 9% of the total market share.
Year on year, live exports of cattle to South Africa fell from 281 965 in 2015 to 165 927 cattle last year showing a decrease of 30.1% between the two years.
According to the Meat Board, there was a more significant decrease of 98.6% in the live exports of weaners in 2016 and between June and July, the number of exports went down from 31 837 to only 2 units.
The Meat Board said that the South African import regulations had a great impact on the price offered to producers saying they were forced to accept the low prices on offer.
“As a result of the new conditions, producers' bargaining power reduced which negatively impacted their potential income that they would have obtained under different conditions.”
Overall, an average decrease of N$1.31 in the weaner auction price was observed between 2016 and 2015, as the price reduced from N$18.04/kg in 2015 to N$ 16.73/kg in 2016.
Meanwhile, a total of 680 843 sheep were marketed, of which 321 413 were slaughtered at export abattoirs.
This is a 29% reduction compared to 2015, when 961 180 sheep were marketed.
“Although both 2015 and 2016 were drought years, the decrease in the total of sheep marketed in 2016 compared to 2015 can specifically be attributed to the decrease in the number of sheep exported between these two years.”
In 2015, 437 229 live sheep were exported whereas only 290 383 were exported live in 2016.
This reduction, the Meat Board says, is also a result of the import conditions which reduced the number of exports in June 2016 from 56 881 to 7 588 live exports in July 2016.
“Given the various challenges such as climatic conditions, the price of sheep skin and low slaughtering numbers, there is a need to ensure that the sheep sector is not compromised and disadvantaged.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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