Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA’S livestock industry will implement a standardised definition of “carcass” and “cold dressed mass” from 1 August 2026 in an effort to ensure uniform weighing procedures and payment practices across all abattoirs.
The amendment, issued by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN) under the Livestock and Livestock Products Act, applies to all cattle, sheep, goat and pig producers as well as abattoir operators in Namibia.
The new definition aims to standardise the condition in which carcasses are presented for weighing and to establish consistent deductions applied before producers are paid.
Under the revised definition, a carcass refers to the dressed carcass of an animal after blood has been drained, the hide or skin removed in the case of cattle, sheep and goats, and the tail removed in the case of cattle. For pigs, sheep and goats, including fat-tailed sheep, the tail remains intact during weighing.
The definition further specifies that the diaphragm, lactating udder, external sex organs, pluck and entrails must be removed, while kidneys must be retained. Where applicable, carcasses must also be split longitudinally through the sternum and vertebral column.
The new policy also introduces a definition for “cold dressed mass”, which will serve as the official payment mass for carcasses not previously chilled.
Cold dressed mass will be calculated by deducting 2.5% from the recorded hot mass for cattle and pig carcasses, and 3% for sheep, lamb and goat carcasses.
The Livestock Producers’ Organisation (LPO) welcomed the amendment, saying it follows concerns raised by producers regarding differences in how export abattoirs handled carcasses for weighing and payment purposes.
The LPO said these variations had, in some cases, resulted in producers receiving lower carcass weights, prompting the organisation to raise the issue with the LLPBN on behalf of its members.
“The LPO welcomes the notification of the LLPB dated 29 June 2026, announcing that a standardised definition of a carcass and cold dressed mass will be implemented at all Namibian abattoirs from 1 August 2026,” the organisation said.
It said the new system would promote fairer and more consistent weighing and payment practices throughout the livestock industry.
However, the LPO added that concerns remain regarding the trimming of fat after grading, with producers calling for greater transparency and uniformity in how the practice is applied.
The organisation said it would continue engaging the LLPBN to establish clear and consistent standards for carcass trimming to ensure producers are treated fairly across the industry.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: File
