Staff Reporter
THE increased cattle numbers coming through the Windhoek Abattoir could indicate a significant turnaround in the business of the Meat Corporation of Namibia. This is as the entity’s total marketed volumes for the period January-June 2023 were 5,515 metric tonnes, generating a total value of N$444 million from Local, Regional, and International Markets.
This was revealed by Undamuje Hambira, Communications Officer at Meatco, who said that the increase in cattle numbers to the Windhoek abattoir is a trend likely to lead to a consolidated recovery year for the financial year running from January 2023 to February 2024.
She added that the company performed favourably in May and June, generating around N$107 million and N$190 million in revenue, respectively.
“Meatco aims to accomplish its commitment of paying producers on time while managing and paying suppliers to ultimately maximize returns from the lucrative niche markets we market our premium meat products. Going forward, Meatco projects another profit for July 2023,” Hambira said.
According to the Meat Board of Namibia (MBN), during the second quarter of 2023, livestock and meat marketing rebounded. The growth was mainly driven by the increase in exports at the export abattoirs. Cattle marketed increased from 78,212 head of cattle, representing an 8.0% increase in total cattle marketed during the second quarter of last year.
The ratio between live exports and slaughtering in the country improved, with 53.0% of all cattle marketed being slaughtered at A, B & Class abattoirs, while live exports’ market share reduced and averaged 47.0%, a decline of 5.9% of total marketing.
According to statistics, Hambira shared that Meatco slaughtered a total of 38,401+ animals, with 2,079 slaughtered from the Northern Communal Area (NCA) and 36,322 SVCF as of the end of July 2023.
The average slaughter weight for January was 250.3 kg, and the average price was N$58.84. In contrast, for June, the average slaughter weight was 253.63 kg, while the average price was N$60.13. Hambira said that Meatco has budgeted to slaughter 50,000 animals South of the Veterinary Cordon Fence and 10,000 North of the Veterinary Cordon Fence for the 2023/24 financial period.
“The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade (MIT) in collaboration with the Meat Board of Namibia (MBN) approved a quota allocation of 75% (1,200 tonnes) to Meatco for the export of beef to the lucrative Norwegian Market during the year 2023. Meatco has thus far filled the quota with 893 metric tonnes as of the end of July 2023. The quota has been effective from 01 January 2023 and must be fulfilled before 31 December 2023 while subject to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the fulfilment of the Norway Beef Quota as issued and updated by the MBN sporadically,” Hambira also shared.
