Beef exports double in first quarter
Growth in sheep, goat and pig sectors
Livestock marketing activities increased during the first quarter of 2024, primarily driven by activities at export-approved abattoirs amid the ongoing drought conditions.
The livestock and meat industry witnessed an increase in marketing activities during the first quarter of 2024, with the cattle sector recording a remarkable growth rate of 47.9%. Similarly, the sheep, goat and pig sectors all saw growth rates surpassing 10%. The growth in the cattle sector positively affected beef production, leading to the doubling of beef exports.
This is according to the first quarterly report of the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN).
“The limited rainfall received, coupled with high input costs, continue threatening the sustainability of the sector. The sector is expected to remain under severe pressure as farmers prepare for drier conditions for the reminder of the season,” LLPBN’s statistician Fransina Angula said in the report.
Cattle sector
During the first quarter of 2024, a total of 86 693 cattle were marketed across all channels. Of this total, 57 562 were exported live on hoof to neighbouring Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, 21 525 heads were slaughtered at local A-class abattoirs and 7 879 heads were slaughtered at various LLPBN- registered B- and C-class abattoirs nationwide.
This brings the growth of the cattle sector up by 47.9% from 58 607 heads marketed during the same quarter of 2023.
“It is evident that there was a shift in slaughtering dynamics during the first quarter as farmers opted to market their animals at export-approved abattoirs as opposed to marketing at B- and C-class abattoirs.
“As a result, A-class abattoirs increased their market share by 4.8% whilst B- and C-class abattoirs dropped their market share by 54.1% during the first quarter of 2024. In real terms, B- and C-Class abattoirs' market share lost 4 023 animals to live exports and butchers,” Angula said.
Namibia continues exporting a significant number of weaners to predominantly South Africa. The live export segment increased its market share during the first quarter up by 35.6% to make up 87.9% of the first quarter overall market share.
Weaner auction prices faced downward pressure and recorded lower levels, dipping to N$24.74 per kilogram during the first quarter of 2024.
New SOPs
In the meantime, the South African department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries implemented new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the import of cattle, sheep and goats for direct slaughter/feedlot purposes into that country during March. The SOPs contain stringent requirements for live exports to South Africa, making it difficult for farmers to export their animals to Namibia’s biggest market for livestock.
A total of 2 936 183 kilograms of beef was exported by Namibian export-approved abattoirs during the first quarter of which 1 277 900 kilograms was exported to the European Union (EU).
Top beef export destinations included the United Kingdom (799 114 kilograms), Norway (402 568 kilograms), South Africa (381 072 kilograms) and China (72 539 kilograms), while African countries took up the lowest volumes.
“Interestingly, a total of 976 kilograms of beef was exported to the United States of America,” Angula noted.
Notably, during the first quarter of 2024, no beef was exported to Botswana, whereas 1 527 kilograms were exported during the same period last year.
Sheep sector
The sector recorded increased marketing of 15.7% led by live exports which increased by 29.3% - from 118 853 heads in the first quarter of 2023 to 153 713 in 2024.
A- and B- and C-class abattoirs experienced a decline of 12% and 20.8% respectively, going down from a combined total of 50 331 heads in 2023 down to 41 989 heads in 2024.
“The change in marketing dynamics is attributed to drought and partially to low producer prices paid by local A-class abattoirs,” Angula said.
“As a result, farmers opted to sell their slaughter-ready animals to Northern Cape abattoirs due to the relatively competitive prices offered by them. The price difference between Namibia sheep export abattoirs and the Northern Cape abattoirs widened.”
The Namibian A2 producer price was on average N$72.79/kg compared to N$78.10/kg of the Northern Cape – N$5.31/kg higher than the Namibian price.
Mutton production has declined and subsequently affected mutton exports that declined by 35%. Of the mutton exports, 73.8% of mutton exports went to South Africa, 14.2% to Zambia and 12% to Botswana.
Goats and pigs
The goat sector witnessed a growth of 12.1% with 23 369 goats marketed during the first quarter of 2024 compared to 20 839 goats in 2023. The growth is owed to an increase in live exports that grew by 18.84%.
A total of 12 253 pigs were marketed at LLPBN-approved abattoirs in the first quarter of 2024, which is 10.3% higher than the 11 113 pigs marketed during the first quarter of 2023.
Domestic consumption (inclusive of processed pork) amounted to 2 224 823 kilograms. Domestic production made up 49.4% of pork consumption while imports made up the remaining 50.6% of domestic pork requirements, mainly from Germany, South Africa, Botswana and Spain. The pork ceiling price remained fixed at N$51.03/kg.