Cattle marketed increases by 8%
Producers respond well to relatively attractive prices
The ratio between live exports and slaughter in the country improved to 53% of all cattle marketed and slaughtered at A, B and C class abattoirs.
A total of 78 212 cattle were marketed during the second quarter of this year, which represents an 8% increase from the same period in 2022.This is according to the Meat Board of Namibia’s statistics, which indicate that the ratio between live exports and slaughter in the country improved to 53% of all cattle marketed and slaughtered at A, B and C class abattoirs.
Meanwhile, the live export market share reduced and averaged at 47%, a decline of 5.9% of total marketing, the Meat Board noted.
"Market signals appear to be well-functioning in the livestock and meat industry as producers responded well to relatively attractive prices offered by A-class abattoirs."
Weaners
The Meat Board said that B2 producer prices paid by export-approved abattoirs south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) averaged N$61.06/kg, a 0.5% increase from the average N$60.77/kg paid last year during the same period.
"Weaner prices struggled to recover during the second quarter of 2023 and averaged N$24.97/kg by the end of the period."
This is a decline of 31.7% compared to the 2022 level of N$36.58/kg.
"The situation is attributed to the decline in demand for Namibian weaners by South Africa, while South African weaners, on the other hand, fetched relatively higher prices and averaged N$32.05/kg."
This is N$7.08/kg higher than Namibian weaner prices during the second quarter of 2023.
Sheep
Meanwhile, a total of 276 325 sheep were marketed during the quarter under review, compared to the 2022 level of 234 354 sheep.
The Meat Board said that the improved performance in sheep marketing was driven by sustained growth in the live export of sheep coupled with increased slaughtering at export-approved abattoirs.
Namibian export-approved abattoirs continued paying higher producer prices relative to Northern Cape abattoirs during the second quarter of the year.
On average, Namibian export-approved abattoirs paid N$ 89.04/kg for the A2 grade, N$8.38/kg more compared to Northern Cape abattoirs, which paid N$80.96/kg for the same grade. This price difference is N$3.40/kg more than the Meat Board's established nominal benchmark difference of N$4.98/kg in favour of Namibian abattoirs.