Since Meatco wants to ensure affordability, flexibility, effectiveness and scalability, our reports indicate slaughter details that compare age, fat, gender and producer prices for 2016. These statistics provide the necessary information to plan for the next financial year.

Meatco has a few concerns, including an increased number of cows and heifers slaughtered during the current year. While this trend can hurt the national herd, the increase is mainly because farmers can only keep certain numbers of cattle on a specific portion of land as they have to create space for weaners that cannot be exported live.

In October 2016, Meatco exceeded budgeted slaughter numbers by 3 252 cattle, largely due to the drought that forced farmers to deliver and market their cattle before conditions deteriorate any further.

Furthermore, the producer price that was kept consistent for many months despite the exchange rate changing is another sign that producers are delivering frequently.

The water restrictions set by the City of Windhoek partially paint a blurry picture for Meatco, as there is a general concern regarding the opening of the Okahandja Factory in 2017.

Age

The slaughter reports indicate that A-Grades and AB-Grades delivered to the abattoir in 2015 compared to A-Grades and AB-Grades delivered to the abattoir in 2016, decreased by 7% (A-Grades from to 23% to 16% and AB-Grades from 25% to 18%). B-Grades indicate an increase of 3% from 34% in 2015 to 37% in 2016. C-Grades increased by 9% from 19% in 2015 to 28% in 2016. The total number of cattle delivered by the end of October 2016 (78 834 head of cattle) decreased by 18 096 head of cattle in comparison to the number of cattle delivered by the end of October 2015 (96 930 head of cattle).

Fat-grade

With regards to fat-grade distribution, 0-Grade animals increased by 1% from 9% in 2015 to 10% in 2016 while 1-Grade animals increased by 2% from 22% in 2015 to 24% in 2016. There is a 3% decrease in animals with a fat grade of 2-4, from 68% in 2015 to 65% in 2016. Animals with a fat grade of 5-6 remain at 1% for both years.

Gender

The drought and stringent export restrictions brought about an increase in the supply of cows and heifers. The quantity of cows slaughtered at Meatco increased by 7% from 15% in 2015 to 22% in 2016, while the quantity of heifers increased from 13% in 2015 to the current 14%.  

Producer price

Despite this year's challenges, there has been an improvement in producer prices. The average weight of A-Grade animals in 2016 is 220,25kg and the average producer price paid for A-Grade animals this year is N$33.90. Comparing these figures to last year, the average weight of A-Grade animals was 213.79kg and the average producer price was N$31.82. This shows in increase of 6.46kg in average weight and an increase of N$2.08 in the average producer price for A-Grade animals.

AB-Grade animals’ average weight in 2015 was 225.59kg and the average price was N$29.02. In 2016 both improved to an average weight of 235.99kg and an average price of N$31.66.

B-Grade animals’ average weight increased by 3.21kg, from 241.31kg in 2015 to 244.52kg in 2016. The average producer price for B-Grades also increased by N$2.73, from N$27.03 in 2015 to N$29.76 in 2016.

C-Grade animals' average weight decreased from 242.14kg in 2015 to 235.19kg in 2016, but the average producer price for C-Grade animals increased by N$2.21, from N$ 23.07 to N$25.28.

Overall, the year-to-date average producer price increased by N$1.73, from N$27.75 to N$29.48. The average weight for the year–to-date compared to last year also increased by 5.1kg from 231.28kg in 2015 to 236.38kg in 2016.

Cattle statistics make it better for the next year's planning