CHAMWE KAIRA
Local livestock producer prices remained broadly firm during the week ending 15 June, with premium beef cattle continuing to command prices of up to N$79.50 per kilogram, while slaughter sheep sold for more than N$41/kg on average at auction.
According to the latest Weekly Livestock and Meat Producer Prices published by the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, top-grade A2 to A4 cattle on the Savanna Beef Operations export price schedule were priced at N$78.00/kg, while cattle weighing between 240kg and 259kg on the carcass classification matrix fetched N$79.50/kg. Animals weighing 260kg and above were priced at N$78.00/kg.
Natural Namibian Meat Producers continued to offer N$90/kg for A1 to A3 lambs on the local price schedule and N$105/kg on the export price schedule, with A4 lambs fetching N$80/kg locally and N$81/kg for export.
Meatco’s Northern Communal Area operations in Rundu and Katima Mulilo maintained fixed contract prices of N$54.00/kg for A2 to A4 cattle under its 30-day payment schedule, while lower grades attracted prices ranging between N$33.00/kg and N$49.50/kg, depending on classification.
Beefcor Meat Suppliers also maintained stable pricing. Under its conformation three schedule, A-grade cattle across all weight categories received N$74.00/kg, while bulls were priced at N$72.00/kg.
Under conformation two, most A and B grade cattle were priced at N$64.00/kg, with bulls receiving N$64.00/kg and lighter carcasses N$62.00/kg.
Auction results from the Livestock Auctioneers Association of Namibia (LABTA) for the period 9 to 12 June showed slaughter oxen averaging N$35.91/kg, with prices ranging from N$32.68/kg to N$40.17/kg.
Slaughter heifers averaged N$32.90/kg, while fat cows averaged N$33.05/kg. Lean cows traded at an average of N$23.95/kg.
In the small stock market, slaughter Dorper sheep averaged N$41.12/kg, marginally ahead of fat-tail sheep at N$40.84/kg.
Goats sold for an average of N$1,178 per head, with prices ranging between N$1,011 and N$1,312.
Cows with calves achieved an average auction price of N$15,040, with a high of N$17,000.
The Bank of Namibia has projected that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector is projected to recover gradually over the medium term, following two consecutive years of contraction.
The sector is projected to grow by 2.8% in both 2026 and 2027, following a contraction of 3.3% in 2025.
The recovery is primarily driven by livestock farming, which is projected to grow by 2.2% in 2026 and further by 4.6 % in 2027, reflecting gradual herd rebuilding following drought-induced destocking in 2024.
The central bank has said livestock marketing is expected to remain supply-constrained in the short term, particularly in the cattle subsector, as herd recovery dynamics continue to limit animal availability for slaughter.
Livestock production and marketing volumes are expected to recover gradually, largely reflecting biological rebuilding cycles rather than demand-driven expansion.
