Meatco regularly conducts Assembly or Permit Days in communal areas. This involves farmers bringing their cattle to a central point to be auctioned off and where they receive cash then and there for the animals sold. However, there is procedures that farmers and Meatco must follow before and on these Permit Days.

An agreement must be entered into between Meatco and the respective Farmer’s Association (FA) operating in the area where the Permit Day takes place. The FA has to select a date for the Permit Day and approve the prices that Meatco will be offering for cattle. From their side, producers need to prepare for and adhere to the advertised days and prices to ensure that the Permit Days are well-coordinated. Animals on auction for slaughter purposes must meet the 90/40 day requirements as stipulated by the Meat Board of Namibia. On the Permit Day, the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) will have an inspector on hand who is responsible for inspecting cattle, and being on the lookout for limping, blindness and animals that are lean.

Animals must arrive a day ahead of the Permit Day to ensure they are weighed on an empty stomach. Trailers and trucks transporting animals must be roadworthy and adhere to animal welfare procedures. This includes a grid on the truck floor to prevent animals from slipping during transportation. Animals must be taken care of while being transported to the permit location.

“It is imperative that when animals leave for the permit location they are accompanied by an animal movement permit, departure register and the 90/40 day verification certificate. Animals without these documents will not be bought or sold on the day,” says Paul Tjaimba, Livestock Procurement Officer at the Gobabis office.
On the Permit Day producers must present their FANMEAT or Brand cards as well as their identification cards for cattle ownership and traceability purposes.