January saw a marked decline in livestock marketing, with cattle down 49.1%, sheep by 65.1%, and goats by 34.9%. Live exports experienced the sharpest dips, especially in cattle and sheep. While prices for certain beef and poultry products rose, overall marketing activity diminished across all sectors, indicating significant challenges for the industry.
In January, there was a significant decline in livestock marketing across all sectors, as reported by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB). Fransina Angula, the Trade and Marketing Statistician, noted that only 11,797 cattle were marketed, reflecting a dramatic decrease of 49.1% from the 23,166 marketed during the same month last year.
The live exports faced the most severe drop, plummeting by 68.2%, while B&C class abattoirs experienced a throughput reduction of 56%. Despite these declines, the average carcass price for S-VCF beef increased to N$64.01 per kilogram, with the s-VCF B2 producer price climbing to N$70.20 per kilogram. Additionally, domestic weaner prices rose to an average of N$28.59 per kilogram.
The sheep sector also showed a 65.1% decline. Live exports fell to 12,571 heads, down by 52.4%, and slaughtering at both export-approved and local abattoirs decreased significantly, dropping by 90.8%. Namibian A2 producer prices averaged N$90.41 per kilogram, while mutton production remained low, with only 272 kilograms of processed mutton exported to South Africa and Botswana.
In terms of goats, marketing recorded a 34.9% year-on-year decline, with 4,515 goats marketed compared to 6,932 last year. The average lamb auction price was reported at N$42.31 per kilogram. The pig sector also faced a slight decline of 2%, with 4,222 pigs marketed.
Pork imports reached 594,330 kilograms, with the majority sourced from Germany, South Africa, and Spain. The poultry sector reported slaughtering of 1,171,897 live chickens, along with the import of 996 day-old chicks. The average price for a medium-sized egg was N$3.74, and 399,294 kilograms of processed chicken products were exported.
Imports of poultry totaled 2,368,150 kilograms, predominantly from Poland. The dairy sector imported 596,179 liters of milk and 1,618,893 kilograms of various products, sourcing from South Africa, the European Union, and Australia. Additionally, 56,590 pieces of hides were exported, while 33,201 wet blue hides were imported from South Africa.
In summary, January witnessed a significant decline in livestock marketing, impacting cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, and dairy sectors. The most pronounced decreases were observed in cattle and sheep exports, while certain prices showed upward trends despite the overall downturn. These statistics underscore the challenges faced by the livestock industry in the current market.
Original Source: economist.com.na
