Windhoek
The Meat Board’s latest published figures indicate that cattle sales decreased by 24.5 percent and sheep sales decreased by more than 35 percent during the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year. Only 75 577 cattle and 136 645 sheep were marketed in the first quarter of this year.
The figures also show that the producer price for B2 grades increased from N$28.51 p/kg for the first quarter of 2015 to N$38.88 p/kg for the first quarter of 2016 (an increase of 36.37 percent), while the weaner price increased from an average price of N$17.80 p/kg for 2015 to N$19.40 p/kg for the first quarter of 2016.
A total of 136 645 sheep were marketed during the first quarter of 2016, while a total number of 211 169 sheep were marketed during the same period in 2015 – a decrease of 35.3 percent.
The average sheep price for A2 grades increased slightly on a quarter to quarter basis. The average price for A2 grades for the first quarter of 2015 was N$49.95 p/kg, while the A2 price during the first quarter of 2016 was N$50.98 p/kg. (Read the full report in tomorrow’s edition of Farmers Forum)