WINDHOEK
The standard of the carcass classification services by the Meat Board of Namibia (MBN) in impressive. The classification is audited on an annual basis by the South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC), an independent company conducting carcass classification in South Africa.
CEO of SAMIC Rudie van der Westhuizen conducted the annual audits at Natural Namibian Meat Processors in Aranos, Farmers Meat Market in Mariental, Brukarros in Keetmanshoop and Meatco in Windhoek. Van der Westhuizen was impressed by the high standards maintained by classification staff members at all the abattoirs audited.
Training course
Last month the MBN and Directorate of Veterinary Services conducted a collaborative refresher training course on the testing of Bovine Tuberculosis. The testing of herds against Bovine TB is a requirement on the new RSA import permit for cattle and the refresher course was aimed at assisting with the development of a standardised testing protocol, as well as standardised interpretation of testing results.
The course was attended by 23 veterinary officials, consisting of both state veterinarians and animal health technicians and included a theoretical and practical component. The practical part of the course could be conducted at the Meatco Okapuka Feedlot, as there is a zero-day withdrawal period for tuberculin.
During the opening of the refresher course the MBN also handed over Bovine TB testing equipment to DVS to assist with the service delivery to producers wanting to export.
Livestock Traceability Register (LTR)
Producers may obtain a copy of the LTR software programme free of charge from the Meat Board. LTR was developed by the Meat Board to assist producers to manage their ear tags and registration there off.
The programme is also designed to work with electronic scanning devises for farmers using such scanners. The software can be downloaded from the Meat Board website or (081 2006588) can be contacted at the Meat Board Head Office to obtain a CD copy of the programme.