Namibia’s livestock industry experienced a significant downturn in January 2025, with cattle sales dropping by 49.1% compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report from the Livestock and Livestock Products Board.
The board revealed that only 11,797 cattle were marketed in January 2025, a sharp decline from the 23,166 cattle sold in January 2024. Live exports saw the steepest decline, plummeting by 68.2%, while throughput at B&C class abattoirs fell by 56%.
Slaughtering at export-approved abattoirs, however, recorded a modest increase of 5.2%.
Despite the drop in cattle sales, prices remained strong. The s-VCF beef all-grade average carcass price rose to N$64.01/kg, an increase of N$4.60/kg from January 2024.
Similarly, the s-VCF B2 producer price climbed by N$9.00/kg year-on-year, reaching N$70.20/kg compared to N$61.19/kg in 2024.
Small livestock sector also takes a hit
The downward trend extended to the small livestock sector, with goat marketing declining by 34.9%. Only 4,515 goats were marketed in January 2025, a drop from the 6,932 recorded in the same period last year.
The decrease was attributed to reduced marketing activity across all channels. Lamb auction prices averaged N$42.31/kg during the first month of the year.
The sheep sector recorded the most severe contraction, with sales plummeting by 65.1% due to low animal availability following previous herd reductions.
Year-on-year, live sheep exports fell by 52.4%, from 26,399 sheep in 2024 to 12,571 in 2025. Slaughtering at export-approved and local abattoirs decreased by 90.8%, as production was redirected towards the domestic market.
“The Namibian A2 producer price rose significantly to N$90.41/kg in January 2025, up N$18.55/kg from N$71.86/kg in 2024. In comparison, the Northern Cape A2 producer price averaged N$89.75/kg, making Namibia’s price slightly higher by N$0.66/kg,” the board stated.
Mutton production remained low due to reduced throughput at export-approved abattoirs, leading to a meager 272 kg of processed mutton being exported to South Africa, Botswana, Portugal, and China.
