Namibia’s beef market witnessed a robust 31.2% growth in April, driven by increased live exports, with 32,795 cattle marketed compared to the previous year, official figures reveal.
Livestock Board Statistician of Trade & Strategic Marketing, Fransina Angula, attributed the growth to enhanced throughput at export and local abattoirs.
“The livestock and meat industry registered relatively good results during April 2024 with all sectors recording growth. Month-on-month, beef producer prices and weaner producer prices improved during April 2024 from the March 2024 levels while sheep carcass producer prices dropped,” she said.
Angula highlighted positive trends across sectors, noting improved beef and weaner producer prices. She emphasised the significance of weaner exports to South Africa amid drought conditions.
“The growth is partly attributed to increased exports of weaners, predominantly to South African feedlots as drought takes its effect. This stream remains a significant marketing segment for Namibian weaner farmers due to the poor financial viability of large-scale feedlots in Namibia which results in costly importation of animal feed from South Africa,” she said.
This comes as beef exports surged to 4,735,663kg by April 2024, up from 2,304,263kg in 2023. Reduced beef imports were attributed to increased local availability of beef offal.
Year-on-year, beef imports decreased by 26.6%, with a 21.3% decline year-to-date.
“The year-to-date beef exports stood at 4,735,663 kg by the end of April 2024 in comparison to 2,304,263kg recorded during the same period in 2023,” said Angula.
During the period under review, 101,209 sheep were marketed, with a 5.1% increase in slaughtering at export abattoirs. However, throughput at B&C class abattoirs declined by 39.4%.
“Year-to-date slaughtering by export-approved abattoirs stood at 32,765 heads by the end of April. Throughput at B & C class abattoirs declined by 39.4 % during April 2024 as only 5 368 animals were marketed relative to 8,861 animals marketed during April 2023,” she noted.
In the goat sector, 8,690 goats were marketed, with 8,684 exported live to South Africa. Angela pointed out a drop in goat lamb prices.
