The Namibian small livestock sector recorded positive growth during the third quarter of 2023, which saw sheep and goat meat industries posting favourable quarterly marketing figures in comparison to the third quarter of 2022.
Exports of beef and beef products increased substantially during the third quarter of 2023 on account of a doubling of quarterly performance by export abattoirs in comparison to last year, with sheep slaughtering activities at export-approved abattoirs increasing during this year’s third quarter.
According to the latest figures by the Meat Board of Namibia, commodity producer prices also posted a mixed performance with slaughter sheep and goat prices trending upwards.
The sheep sector registered a growth of 60.94% in the total number of sheep marketed, which was a total of about 190 825 sheep marketed during the third quarter compared to 118 569 marketed during the same quarter last year.
Slaughter activities in the export abattoirs increased by 186.10% during the third quarter of 2023 although, registering a decline of 75.25% on a quarter-on-quarter
basis.
This is due to a dip in slaughtering activities that performed poorly during August and September as no exports to Norway were undertaken during the last two months of the third quarter of 2023.
As a result, sheep prices at export abattoirs slightly dropped from the last trading prices observed during the same period in 2022. A2 sheep prices averaged N$83.52/kg during the third quarter of 2023 compared to N$83.66/kg observed in 2022.
On the other hand, C2 sheep prices at export abattoirs declined drastically from N$63.15/kg observed in 2022 to N$44.88/kg in 2023. Due to reduced slaughter activity at the Farmers Meat Market abattoir, sheep meat exports slowed by 35.17%, quarter-on-quarter.
However, year-on-year, exports grew by 276.02%. Exports of sheep meat are likely to remain at lower levels during the fourth quarter of 2023 due to depressed international prices coupled with improved local prices linked to festive demand.
Goat sector
Meanwhile, the third quarter recorded an improved performance in goat marketing with a total of 46 807 goats marketed during the quarter bringing year-to-date marketing to a level of 104 824 goats which represents a 7.55% increase in marketing.
A decline in goats slaughtering north and south of the veterinary cordon fence was observed while positive live exports to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia were also observed.