Increase in demand for Namibian sheep
Exports increase significantly
The majority of December exports went to South African abattoirs, while the remainder went to South African feedlots and farms in Botswana for breeding purposes.
Live sheep exports declined on a month-to-month basis by 32.6% from the 43 038 heads exported in November 2023 to 29 009 heads exported in December. Total sheep exports for 2023 were recorded at 41.29% more than that of 2022, according to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board's Market Watch for December.
It said live exports to South Africa increased by 41.18%, whereas exports to Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia increased by 174.05%, 21.18%, 1 181.82% and 229.87% respectively.
“This shows an increase in demand for Namibian sheep breeds in Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, as sheep are mostly exported to these countries for breeding purposes."
Furthermore, producer prices in both Namibia and South Africa have declined on a month-to-month basis.
According to the report, the majority of December exports (86.65%) went to South African abattoirs, while the remainder went to South African feedlots (13.32%) and farms in Botswana for breeding purposes (0.02%).
On the other hand, slaughter at export abattoirs declined by 32.06% on a month-to-month basis. This is 24.95% lower than the number slaughtered during the same month last year.
Goats, pigs
Meanwhile, live goat exports shot up by 42.98% during the month of December, a notable increase that happens on an annual basis.
The 17 710 heads exported predominantly to South African feedlots is only 5.33% more than what was exported during the same month in 2022.
“Auction prices increased across all categories, with goat kapater witnessing an 11.74% increase in prices, reaching the highest price received during 2023, but remaining 0.8% lower than the average price received in 2022.”
A total of 3 924 pigs were slaughtered during December, growing 1.68% on a month-to-month basis from the previous number of 3 859 heads slaughtered in November 2023. This is 5.14% more than what was slaughtered during the same month last year.
Mariental Abattoir slaughtered 69.62%, whereas Haloli abattoir slaughtered 28.9%. The remaining 1.4% were slaughtered by other abattoirs.
In total, for 2023, 45 292 pigs were slaughtered at local abattoirs, which is 2.24% less than what was slaughtered during 2022.
Last year also noted live exports of pigs during months May and December, which totalled 198 pigs being exported to Angola, it said.
Pork ceiling price
The pork ceiling price has been fixed to N$51.03 per kilogram as a mitigation strategy to counter the negative effects of the dwindling Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA) pork price, the current benchmark price for Namibia’s pork ceiling price calculation.
The calculated pork ceiling price recorded a decline from the previous month of November 2023 by N$2.08/kg. The December calculated price is 7.76% lower than the N$51.03/kg recorded during the same month the previous year.
South African pork prices similarly dropped from the N$37.47/kg recorded in November 2023 to N$35.11/kg in December. This is 7.51% lower than the price recorded in December 2022.
“The expectations were for prices to trend a little higher during the festive season due to seasonal demand and then ease post-festive; however, prices trended lower and are expected to continue on that path over the following months,” the Livestock and Livestock Products Board said.