LPO concerned about ear tag quota system

ELLANIE SMITWINDHOEKThe Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) has expressed some concerns about the new ear tag quota system that the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has developed. The system will be implemented when purchasing ear tags at the Meat Board of Namibia.According to the Meat Board, each producer will be allocated a quota when applying to purchase ear tags. The quota is the number of ear tags the producer will qualify for in a 12-month period. It will be generated based on the total number of ear tags registered and ear tag replacements done in the previous 24 months.The system will then deduct the number of ear tags purchased in the past 12 months to determine the number of tags eligible for on the day of application. The ear tag quota system came into effect on Monday. Ghost cattleThe LPO says it appears that producers are purchasing large quantities of ear tags, registering them and then using them over a period of several years. “This results in numbers of cattle on the NamLITS system that do not really exist.” The LPO expressed concern that producers, who are now rebuilding their herds, may need more tags than they have a quota for. At that point, the LPO was informed that the law provides for producers to apply for tags in writing if their quota is not enough. The LPO will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to sort out this matter.The Meat Board said that producers ordering official ear tag quotas via email should contact the ear tag office to enquire about the available quota prior to making payments. For further information, producers are urged to contact the NamLITS head office at the following telephone numbers: 061-208 7294, 061-208 7307 or 061-258501.

LPO concerned about ear tag quota system

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-09

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LPO concerned about ear tag quota system

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-09

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