By: Nghiinomenwa Erastus

Last month the Namibia Genetics Auction Group hosted its first auction for the year, auctioning high-quality cows and bulls for breeding to potential livestock.

According to the information released from the auction, the auction’s highest price was N$110 000, which both a Simbra and a red Brahman bull achieved.

The biannual Namibia Genetics Auction Group’s event, which was hosted at the Agra Bank Windhoek Ring in Windhoek

Namibia Genetics Auction Group leader Bianca Lueesse expressed that they had a successful auction.

“The animals on offer were of very high quality and were prepared to the highest standards.”

The auction facilitated the sale of 91 cattle, comprising 43 bulls, 25 commercial females, eight heifers, and 15 cows and calves.

The participating farmers in the breeding and auction achieved an average price of above N$60 000 for bulls and nearly N$30 000 for heifers and cows.

The Namibia Genetics Auction Group comprises 15 members specialising in seven cattle breeds.

According to the information provided by the sponsors, it is the biggest cattle breeding group in the country based on membership and breeds bulls and cows best suited to Namibia’s harsh conditions.

The group holds two annual auctions, and the second for the year will take place in August.

The auction was established in 2011 and sponsored by Bank Windhoek.

 

HERD-REBUILDING AND BEEF PRICES

Breeding with bulls and cows best suited to Namibia’s harsh conditions is vital to ensuring an adequate supply of throughput to abattoirs and live export.

According to Meat Board of Namibia statistics, for the first quarter of 2022, total marketing remains below the five-year average of the first quarter.

While export abattoirs performed above the five-year average of 13 998 cattle by 8.92 per cent, having posted a kill of 15 247 cattle in the first quarter of 2022.

This year’s live exports were higher than those of 2021, at 28 972 cattle, almost half the five-year average performance (56 373 cattle) of the first quarter.

A total of 51 241 cattle were marketed during the first quarter of 2022, with an 18.96 per cent growth from the level observed in the same period last year.

Price developments in the first quarter show a correction in the weaner B2 ratio towards what is assessed as the ideal price ratio, 64 per cent weaner/B2 ratio, the statistics show.

The weaner/B2 ratio has declined from 84 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 to 68 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

According to Meat Board analysis, the decline indicates upward pressure on prices due to competition for the limited quantity of slaughter cattle amongst abattoirs given the herd-rebuilding exercise.

The board analysis also added that with better carcass prices, the weaner/B2 ratio dropped significantly, resulting in better profitability for ox-producers in nominal terms and increased market share for export abattoirs from 21 per cent in 2021 to 30 per cent in 2022.

Slaughter prices are expected to average above N$60/kg by the end of 2022.

On the meat trading front, beef exports in the first quarter of 2022 totalled 2 043.7 tons, up by 137 per cent from 862.7 tons recorded in 2021.

On the other hand, the country also imported in the first quarter, mainly processed products and offal increased by 9 per cent to stand at 539.7 tons in the first quarter, signalling a recovery in demand.

The beef imports as a percentage of beef exports were almost halved at 26 per cent compared to 57 per cent in 2021. This is an improvement in the beef trade balance due to increased production and export of beef.

Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na