Small sheep exported under scheme
Sheep producers who are affected by the drought are reminded that the sheep marketing scheme makes provision that sheep that are “too small or too lean” may be exported.
This includes sheep that weigh less than 36kg and are classified as fat grade (0).
To be able to market sheep under this condition of the sheep marketing scheme, sheep producers must apply with the Meat Board livestock agent.
The agent and abattoir representative or a Meat Board representative will then certify whether the sheep qualify under the “too small or too lean” condition and are not suitable for slaughter. In case of a dispute, the Meat Board will make use of a carcass classifier to determine whether the sheep comply with the set conditions. Should the abattoir representative not be available, the Meat Board representative will certify whether the sheep qualify as “too small or too lean” and may be exported or not. Similar terms and conditions apply to the export of fat tail sheep.
The Meat Board, at its latest board meeting on 18 May this year approved an additional condition to the sheep marketing scheme.
This condition stipulates that in the case where a producer sells sheep to an abattoir for slaughtering, and the producer does not get paid by that particular abattoir within seven working days for the sheep delivered, that producer will get an additional sheep export quota, equal to or less than the number of sheep delivered to the abattoir.
This additional condition is effective immediately until the upcoming board meeting of the Meat Board on 10 August when this condition will be re-evaluated.
Furthermore the Meat Board said the Directorate of Veterinary Services approved the compulsory application of individual small stock identification ear tags for the import and export of small stock to and from inter alia South Africa, for implementation as from 1 September. The small stock identification ear tags consist of a set of visual ear tags for placement on the right ear and a set of electronic ear tags for placement on the left ear of small stock.
The Meat Board currently has 96 000 small stock identification ear tags in stock and producers are requested to purchase these soonest possible for any planned exports of small stock as from 1 September 2017. The cost of the ear tags is N$10.75 per set and they are made available on a subsidised basis to producers only at the Meat Board.
STAFF REPORTER
This includes sheep that weigh less than 36kg and are classified as fat grade (0).
To be able to market sheep under this condition of the sheep marketing scheme, sheep producers must apply with the Meat Board livestock agent.
The agent and abattoir representative or a Meat Board representative will then certify whether the sheep qualify under the “too small or too lean” condition and are not suitable for slaughter. In case of a dispute, the Meat Board will make use of a carcass classifier to determine whether the sheep comply with the set conditions. Should the abattoir representative not be available, the Meat Board representative will certify whether the sheep qualify as “too small or too lean” and may be exported or not. Similar terms and conditions apply to the export of fat tail sheep.
The Meat Board, at its latest board meeting on 18 May this year approved an additional condition to the sheep marketing scheme.
This condition stipulates that in the case where a producer sells sheep to an abattoir for slaughtering, and the producer does not get paid by that particular abattoir within seven working days for the sheep delivered, that producer will get an additional sheep export quota, equal to or less than the number of sheep delivered to the abattoir.
This additional condition is effective immediately until the upcoming board meeting of the Meat Board on 10 August when this condition will be re-evaluated.
Furthermore the Meat Board said the Directorate of Veterinary Services approved the compulsory application of individual small stock identification ear tags for the import and export of small stock to and from inter alia South Africa, for implementation as from 1 September. The small stock identification ear tags consist of a set of visual ear tags for placement on the right ear and a set of electronic ear tags for placement on the left ear of small stock.
The Meat Board currently has 96 000 small stock identification ear tags in stock and producers are requested to purchase these soonest possible for any planned exports of small stock as from 1 September 2017. The cost of the ear tags is N$10.75 per set and they are made available on a subsidised basis to producers only at the Meat Board.
STAFF REPORTER
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