More cattle sold in NCA

There has been a 31.5% increase in cattle marketed at auctions in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) from the first half of 2018 to the first half of this year. The latest statistics provided by the Meat Board of Namibia show that a total of 1 273 cattle were sold at auctions in the NCA from January to June this year, compared to 871 during the same period last year. According to the Meat Board the same number of auctions (11) were held in 2018 and 2019, while the turnover generated last year amounted to about N$5.38 million and this year N$6.73 million was generated. “The increase is mainly attributed to the severe drought affecting the Namibian meat industry,” the Meat Board said. It was reported that on average around 16% of cattle offered were unsold.Furthermore there has been a 9.5% increase in cattle slaughtered in the NCA this year, with a significant increase of around 226% in the price per head.Statistics show that during the 2018 period 885 cattle were slaughtered at local abattoirs at an average price per head of N$3 122. This amounted to a total turnover of N$2.7 million. This year, 978 cattle were slaughtered at an average price per head of N$7 062 and a total turnover of N$6.9 million was realised. The Meat Board collected these statistics from the Ondangwa abattoir, Onhuno abattoir and the Meatco Mobile Slaughtering Unit (MSU).“These increases could be attributed to an increase in the quality of cattle slaughtered in the Kavango East and West regions,” says the Meat Board. It added that Meatco's MSU statistics revealed that out of a total of 413 cattle slaughtered at the unit between February and June this year, 151 carcasses were classified B grade, representing around 36%. According to the Meat Board this is a result of in-depth advisory and mentoring services provided to farmers through which they were made aware of the benefit of improving their cattle genetics through cross-breeding.“Producers residing in the NCA have been deprived of a formal livestock market since 2015 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). NCA producers ever since had to rely on auctions and local abattoirs to market their livestock,” said the Meat Board.The agriculture ministry, with the assistance of the Meat Board, is in the process of commissioning export abattoirs at Oshakati and Katima Mulilo. “Once commissioned NCA cattle producers will have to ensure that there is a consistent supply of quality cattle to make the operations of these abattoirs sustainable,” said the Meat Board. ELLANIE SMIT

More cattle sold in NCA

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

Please login to leave a comment

More cattle sold in NCA

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-03

Please login to leave a comment

Login