This article will review the performance of cattle, small stock and pork marketing. The review will cover and compare the second quarter (Q2) of 2025 with the corresponding 2024 period.
Cattle sector
Cattle marketing did not improve during Q2 of 2025 compared to 2024. A decrease in marketing was observed across all channels when compared to the preceding year’s second quarter.
Production and marketing
- Year-on-year, 92 600 cattle were marketed across all channels. This represents a decline in the growth of the cattle sector by 56,21% from the 211 473 heads marketed during the same quarter of 2024.
- A total of 26 523 animals were exported live on the hoof to neighboring SADC member states, 46 293 were slaughtered at A-class abattoirs and 19 784 were slaughtered at various LLPBN-registered B- and C-class abattoirs.
- B- and C-class abattoirs slaughtered 19 784 heads of cattle during the first half of 2025 whereas throughput at these facilities during the corresponding quarter of 2024 stood at 33 673 heads of cattle, showing a decline of 41,25%.
- From the total number of cattle marketed during the first half of 2025, 28,64% were live exports, export abattoirs took up 49,99% while B- and C-class abattoirs absorbed 21,37% of the total market share. The market share during the corresponding 2024 period was 51,65% for live exports, 32,43% for A-class abattoirs and 15,92% for B- and C-class abattoirs.
- During the review period, domestic weaner prices at auctions reached higher levels.
- The average weaner price sout of the veterinary cordon fence (sVCF) increased to N$30.26 per kg during Q2 of 2025, up from the N$24.45 recorded during the same period in 2024.
- During the review period, the tolly price north of the veterinary cordon fence (nVCF) averaged N$29.58 per kg with the highest (N$32.29) and lowest (N$27.99) prices recorded in April and May.
- Year-on-year, the B2 producer carcass price increased by N$7.60 per kg and averaged N$67.36 per kg during the first half of 2025, compared to the N$59.76 paid to producers during the same 2024 period.
- The Red Meat Abattoir Association (RMAA) came in N$8.07 per kg lower than its Namibian counterpart and averaged N$59.29 per kg during Q2 of 2025. In the same 2024 period, the average was N$46.29.
Sheep sector
Year-on-year, 300 668 sheep were marketed across all channels. This represents a decline of 41,83% in the growth of the sector, compared to the 516 887 animals marketed in the same quarter of 2024.
Production and marketing
- During the first half of 2025, total sheep marketed decreased by 41,38% in comparison to 2024.
- There was an overall decrease in all marketing channels during the period under review, with live exports recording a decline of 42,95%, A-class abattoirs recording a 39,68% decline and B- and C-class abattoirs a decline of 35,64%.
- Live sheep exports significantly decreased by 42,24% during the quarter under review, recording 149 403 heads in comparison to the 258 641 recorded in 2023.
- The market share for live sheep exports decreased to 76,09% during Q2 of 2025, down from the 78,04% recorded in 2024.
- Export-approved abattoirs’ market share decreased and accounted for 8,75%, while B- and C-class abattoirs’ market share increased to 15,16% during the period under review.
- The price difference between Namibian sheep export abattoirs and Northern Cape abattoirs averaged N$2.79 per kg during Q2. A negative price differential of N$7.87 per kg was recorded in favour of Northern Cape producers during 2024.
- The Namibian A2 producer price on average traded at N$96.38 per kg during the second quarter of 2025, whereas the Northern Cape price averaged N$93.58, N$2.79 per kg lower than the Namibian A2 producer price.
- The Northern Cape producer prices serve as a benchmark for Namibian producers, given that the majority of sheep exports are destined for the Northern Cape region.
Goat sector
The goat sector witnessed a drop in all marketing channels during Q2 of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
Production and marketing
- Total goat marketed during the second quarter of 2025 decreased by 12,12% in comparison to 2024.
- Live export of goats decreased by 9,76% during Q2 of 2025, recording 32 450 heads in comparison to the 35 961 in 2024.
- From the total number of goats marketed, 98.01% were live exports, while Band C-class abattoirs accounted for 1,99% of all animals marketed.
Pork sector
Pig slaughtering activities at LLPBN-registered abattoirs recorded a growth during the period under review when compared to Q2 of 2024.
Production and marketing
- Pig slaughtering totaled 13 077 heads, a 6,8% growth in comparison to a slaughter quantity of 12 244 during the corresponding 2024 period.
- The pork market share remained in favour of imports due to increased imports.
- Excluding processed products, the local pork product market share increased from 35,8% to 52,28% during the quarter under review.
- Local pork production served 46,06% of Namibian consumption requirements (including processed pork) during the period under review.
- The average slaughter mass of pigs during Q2 averaged 98,77 kg.
- The pork-ceiling price remained fixed at N$51.03 per kg while the benchmark RMAA price in South Africa averaged N$32.47 per kg during the quarter.
Conclusion
Q2 of 2025 showed a decline in growth across all marketing channels for cattle, sheep and goats. However, the pig sector’s total marketing increased slightly. During the quarter under review, exports of beef products increased substantially while lamb and mutton exports declined. Commodity producer prices gradually increased from the start of 2025 and stabilised during the quarter under review due to the limited availability of slaughter-ready animals. This is due to a herd rebuilding phase that carried over to Q2 of 2025.
