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Home / Meat Board advises producers to object early
Meat Board advises producers to object early
2016-11-15Staff Report 2 Windhoek - Producers are advised to make objections before carcass leaves the slaughterhouse. This is because it is not always practically possible after the carcass leaves the slaughterhouse, but an exception can be made by having the carcass re-evaluated in the coldroom by the head: classification. Once the carcass leaves the cold room, it is impossible to do a re-evaluation. Producers are thus requested to lodge their objections as quickly as possible. This is one of the issues that was discussed during the Meat Board Road Show. With regard to the carcass classification system, the second issue was the re-classification of the age groups of livestock like when a two-tooth carcass should be classified as an A-grade as it denotes a younger animal. The reason is that some breeds shed their milk teeth at an earlier age than others. The third issue was the classification of a fat-tail carcass. Fat-tail carcasses as such are penalised by the price paid and not necessarily by the classification system. Namibia uses the South African classification system since most of her carcasses are sold in South Africa. It is therefore not possible to just randomly change the classification system. The Meat Board conducts a bi-annual- and independent perception survey of its role and functions within the Namibian meat industry. This evaluation is predominantly based on the role players’ and producers’ perceptions of the Meat Board. he 2015 evaluation indicated, among others, that producers value personal contact more than the written media. This necessitated the board to attend farmers’ associations and regional agricultural union meetings on a more personal basis during 2016. The Meat Board therefore visited various meetings of both commercial and communal producers in all regions of the country. Some of the most important issues that were discussed are summarised below: Agriculture Ministry withdraws arboricides selling The Meat Board has received instruction and withdrawal of its registration of selling arboricides by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. The ministry gave various reasons for this action, inter alia that the Meat Board does not have the mandate to sell arboricides. However, the Meat Board is in possession of arboricide supplies to the value of N$1,7 million, which its board may sell under certain conditions. The Meat Board is still negotiating with the ministry to obtain approval to sell these arboricides and will thereafter take a decision regarding the further import and selling of arboricides to producers at a cost. NAMLITTS expanded, improved Sheep producers protested in all earnest against the implementation of the double-ear-tag system for the identification of small stock. The implementation of the system follows the newly announced South African requirements for the traceability and identification of small stock on July 1, 2016 and has been determined as an acceptable method by the Directorate Veterinary Services. This system, like the cattle-ear-tag system, will soon be announced by the Directorate Veterinary Services for national implementation with regards to the movement of all small stock to any market. The Meat Board aims to make the registration of ear tags on NamLITS as easy as possible, as well as to financially support small stock producers with the purchase of the first batch of small stock ear tags. 2016-11-15Staff Report 2
