Windhoek
At the beginning of this financial year that started on February 1 and to date Meatco budgeted to slaughter 83 809 cattle. The number of cattle slaughtered up to September 3 totalled 81 352.
The Okahandja abattoir slaughtered 33 149 animals, while Windhoek abattoir slaughtered 48 203 cattle since the beginning of this financial year.
Thokozile Mdlalose, communication officer at Meatco, says Meatco has a forecast of 29 766 cattle to be slaughtered at the Okahandja plant between September and the end of this year.
“The number of slaughter cattle targeted for the financial year (2015/2016) increased to just over 108 969 , due to Meatco’s integration initiatives and the increased Norway quota of 78.1 percent playing important roles last year and continuing for the year ahead. Last year, these factors helped Meatco raise producer prices to record levels, increasing by about 30 percent south of the veterinary cordon fence and 50 percent in the northern communal areas.
The year so far has been difficult, with challenges on both the economic and environmental fronts,” Mdlalose says.
Namibia saw outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and severe drought in most parts of the country, as well as turbulent exchange rates on world markets that greatly affected the meat industry and Meatco’s operations. The aim remains to put the right strategies in place to counter these challenges.
Coupled with a positive exchange rate, these factors helped Meatco keep prices high and stable throughout 2014.