Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Meat Board of Namibia has come up with a plan to create market access for cattle farmers north of the veterinary cordon fence, better known as the redline.
Farmers from the northern and north-eastern parts of the country miss out on the lucrative export market as they are highly exposed to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The high exposure to FMD is a result of the movement of cattle and buffaloes between Namibia and Angola.
“The options include looking at the construction of a Namibia-Angola border fence, fencing off low-risk areas to create FMD-free zones, establishing FMD-free compartments, and a commodity-based trade (CBT) approach,” Meat Board of Namibia (MBN said.
MBN also said about 69 811 cattle were marketed during the third quarter to date – an increase of 2,3% from 68 239 cattle marketed during the same quarter in 2020. However, the total number of cattle marketed declined by 12,39%.
“From the total cattle marketed year-to-date, 59% were live exports, 26% were taken up by export abattoirs while B&C class abattoirs enjoyed 15% of the market share. Compared to 2020, export abattoirs gained 5% market share from B&C class abattoirs and live exports and butchers which lost 4% and 1% market share, respectively,” the meat board said.
According to the meat board, although weaner prices remained higher than last year’s, there has generally been a sustained decrease in weaner prices from January to September.
“Slaughter prices, on the other hand, stabilised during the second and third quarter. The sheep sector performed better in quarter 3 of 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2020. The quarter started out strongly with only September recording a lower level,” the meat board said.
MBN added that the total sheep marketed during the third quarter increased by 8,57% compared to the same period last year. “On a year-to-date basis, total marketing increased from 301 404 sheep in the first nine months of 2020 to 310 661 sheep in 2021, a 3,07% growth,” MBN said.
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