Confusion about feedlot reopening

Vice-President Nickey Iyambo yesterday assured farmers that he would address the problems facing the sector, including the closure of the Okapuka feedlot.

Addressing the Agri-Outlook Conference hosted by the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), Iyambo said he would call a meeting with agriculture minister John Mutorwa to address these problems.

Among these are the closure of the Okapuka feedlot, the suspension of beef exports to China because of an outbreak of lumpy skin disease, and the fact that the offal market is underutilised.

Meanwhile, the meat industry has expressed frustration over the lack of a clear message on whether the Okapuka feedlot has been conditionally reopened.

A letter apparently sent by the Directorate of Veterinary Services to Meatco on 30 September stated that the feedlot may reopen on certain conditions. These conditions included that the feedlot may slaughter cattle, but that the meat may not be marketed.

The letter authorised the feedlot to take in cattle and to move slaughter-ready cattle to the Meatco abattoirs.

It also said that deliberate administration of zeranol cannot be ruled out based on the results of samples taken on 31 August. Therefore, the Okapuka feedlot remains under restriction and closure until the situation is resolved.

However, the letter also stated that the feedlot had been reopened conditionally at Meatco’s request.

Referring to the advice given by a certain Paolo Combo it stated that the Directorate of Veterinary Services is correct that a physical inspection alone is insufficient to rule out abuse, because if zeranol was being administered illegally, it would not necessarily be implanted at the base of the ear.

“Clearly the DVS is at liberty to decide on whatever measures it sees fit if it suspects the deliberate treatment of animals with zeranol. However, on the basis of what you have sent me, I do not see sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that there has been deliberate administration of zeranol at the Okapuka feedlot,” it said.

However this week the ministry placed statements in several newspapers that the feedlot remained closed due to the zeranol that was detected in samples, adding that the substance is banned in the European Union.

Contacted for comment, acting chief veterinary officer Jessy Kamwi denied any knowledge of these developments and said that she had to get feedback from her “boss” who is currently in South Africa.

The ministry was adamant that they were unaware of a letter sent to Meatco authorising a conditional lifting of the closure. It indicated that the letter could have been falsified.

However, Kamwi confirmed the conditional reopening to Republikein on Wednesday. A copy of the letter in Namibian Sun’s possession shows that Kamwi was copied in the email that was sent out about the reopening.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services closed down the feedlot on 2 September after detecting zeranol in samples taken from cattle for the second time in 12 months. It was said that the feedlot would be closed for at least eight months.

Iyambo promised to provide feedback to the NAU as soon as he had discussed the issues with the minister.

ELLANIE SMIT