Meatco, the country’s largest meat processing and marketing entity, has set an ambitious slaughter target of 63 000 cattle for 2026.
Through the audacious drive, Meatco plans to buy over 50 000 cattle from farmers south of the veterinary cordon fence, also famously known as the Redline, and more than 13 000 from producers north of the line.
Last year, Meatco set a slaughter target of 70 000 cattle, but a combination of industry-wide factors, such as the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreak, which extended from late 2024 into mid-2025, impacted the achievement of this target. Countrywide, good rainfall conditions also discouraged many farmers from selling in large volumes, as many opted to retain stock and focus on restocking in anticipation of the 2026 season.
According to Meatco’s interim CEO Albertus Aochamub, all these factors further constrained marketable supply, which resulted in significantly declined volumes, with approximately 35 000 cattle being slaughtered south of the Redline and 6 863 cattle north of the veterinary cordon fence during the 2025 period.
“These volumes place the business under considerable pressure, as they are insufficient to sustain a competitive and profitable operating environment. Achieving these new set volumes will be critical to covering operating costs, enabling essential capital expenditure, and returning the business to a sustainable and profitable position.
As we all appreciate, cattle numbers and carcass weights remain the cornerstone of a viable red-meat industry,” stated Aochamub.
Despite these challenges, Meatco remained steadfast in fulfilling its mandate as a price stabiliser for the industry.
Aochamub further touched on four strategic focus areas for 2026, which are rebuilding producer trust, unlocking and securing high-value export markets, enhancing operational efficiency across all abattoirs, both north and south of the Redline, and delivering reliable, timely service at the right volumes.
Meatco plays a critical role in assisting the government in stabilising the red meat industry, particularly by supporting farmers north of the Redline and abattoir operators in those areas.
Agile operations
During the 2023/24 period, Meatco successfully slaughtered 60 820 cattle to surpass the budgeted target of 50 000. This achievement is a testament to its operational resilience and strategic planning, with plans in the pipeline to see Meatco slaughter over 105 000 cattle annually to meet market demand and expand its market share.
Meatco’s agro-processing and value-addition department continued to face evolving market dynamics, driven by changing consumer preferences and regulatory requirements.
Still, it remained agile in responding to these shifts, leveraging market insights to tailor its product offerings and enhance competitiveness.
The state-owned beef processing and marketing entity plays a vital role in Namibia’s red meat industry, as it is the single biggest player in terms of approved slaughter capacity with international export certification, enabling livestock producers to access lucrative international markets.
Branching out
The Katima Mulilo abattoir continues to demonstrate positive performance, with increased sales and market realisations. However, challenges such as low slaughter numbers and infrastructural requirements demand attention for sustained growth and efficiency.
Due to the low cattle supply, the abattoir operated in block-slaughter mode to maintain efficiency.
Meanwhile, the transfer of operational control of the Rundu abattoir to Meatco marked a significant milestone in the programme’s journey to strengthen the Beef Value Chain Development Programme for farmers in the northern communal areas.
The Rundu abattoir, constructed in 2014 at a cost of N$170 million, boasts a slaughter capacity of 80 to 120 cattle per day and offers a vital market for local livestock producers across the region. This strategic move underscored Meatco’s commitment to advancing agricultural development and economic prosperity in the northern regions.
– ohembapu@nepc.com.na
