Protecting your livestock investment
Livestock farming is central to Namibia’s agricultural industry and is one of the country's main economic drivers. Erastus Ngaruka, Agribank’s technical advisor for livestock and rangeland management, stressed that protecting this sector is crucial, not only for sustaining Namibia’s markets but also for supporting the livelihoods of many Namibians, both directly and indirectly.
Ngaruka explained that Namibia’s livestock industry primarily focuses on cattle, sheep, and goats. To ensure the success and productivity of this industry, key management practices are centred on the health, nutrition, and welfare of the animals.
According to Ngaruka, livestock health is vital to Namibian farmers as it impacts their ability to trade animals and animal products. The country’s beef industry, in particular, plays a key role in Namibia’s export economy. Namibian beef is shipped to international markets, with live animals such as weaners being sent to South Africa and beef cuts reaching lucrative markets in Europe.
“Namibian beef has long been popular in Europe, and now it also has access to markets in the United States and China,” Ngaruka added.
Through ongoing efforts to expand and diversify its markets, Namibia recently secured the opportunity to export goat and sheep meat to China. Ngaruka views this as excellent news for small-scale farmers in the country.
“This opens up new opportunities for goat and sheep farmers. They will need to improve their production capacity to meet demand in both these new markets and those already established,” he explained.
Market expansion is built on Namibia’s strong reputation for animal health and free-range farming. Over the years, these practices have earned the trust of international consumers. Ngaruka also highlighted that Namibia complies with international trade standards, including animal health protocols set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This compliance is reinforced by national authorities, such as the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Livestock and Livestock Product Board (LLPB), which oversee regulations across the industry.
An important initiative for maintaining this reputation is the FANMeat scheme. This system ensures the quality and safety of Namibian beef, and includes the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS), which allows meat and livestock to be traced back to their farms of origin. This system is vital for maintaining consumer confidence and ensuring transparency in Namibia’s meat supply.
Ngaruka stressed that to continue gaining access to international markets, farmers must play a crucial role by adhering to animal health and trade regulations.
“Farmers should implement animal health and welfare programmes to boost productivity and their participation in the livestock market,” he said.
When developing these programmes, Ngaruka advised farmers to consider the prevalence of diseases in their environment. This includes notifiable diseases—those that must be controlled through annual vaccinations. These diseases include Anthrax, Brucellosis, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which are closely monitored for trade and economic reasons.
“Export markets demand that meat comes from areas free from or cleared of these diseases,” Ngaruka explained.
Farmers should also be aware of other diseases, such as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), botulism, black quarter, pulpy kidney, and pasteurellosis, all of which can affect livestock health.
Another key aspect of animal health is the control of parasites, both internal and external. Ngaruka highlighted the importance of parasite management, as they can cause serious illnesses in livestock and reduce the quality of meat, resulting in economic losses.
“Parasites can be deadly, and their impact on meat quality can be financially damaging to farmers,” he said.
In conclusion, Ngaruka emphasised the need for farmers to be proactive in maintaining animal health to protect Namibia's livestock industry and sustain its global reputation.
Ngaruka explained that Namibia’s livestock industry primarily focuses on cattle, sheep, and goats. To ensure the success and productivity of this industry, key management practices are centred on the health, nutrition, and welfare of the animals.
According to Ngaruka, livestock health is vital to Namibian farmers as it impacts their ability to trade animals and animal products. The country’s beef industry, in particular, plays a key role in Namibia’s export economy. Namibian beef is shipped to international markets, with live animals such as weaners being sent to South Africa and beef cuts reaching lucrative markets in Europe.
“Namibian beef has long been popular in Europe, and now it also has access to markets in the United States and China,” Ngaruka added.
Through ongoing efforts to expand and diversify its markets, Namibia recently secured the opportunity to export goat and sheep meat to China. Ngaruka views this as excellent news for small-scale farmers in the country.
“This opens up new opportunities for goat and sheep farmers. They will need to improve their production capacity to meet demand in both these new markets and those already established,” he explained.
Market expansion is built on Namibia’s strong reputation for animal health and free-range farming. Over the years, these practices have earned the trust of international consumers. Ngaruka also highlighted that Namibia complies with international trade standards, including animal health protocols set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). This compliance is reinforced by national authorities, such as the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Livestock and Livestock Product Board (LLPB), which oversee regulations across the industry.
An important initiative for maintaining this reputation is the FANMeat scheme. This system ensures the quality and safety of Namibian beef, and includes the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS), which allows meat and livestock to be traced back to their farms of origin. This system is vital for maintaining consumer confidence and ensuring transparency in Namibia’s meat supply.
Ngaruka stressed that to continue gaining access to international markets, farmers must play a crucial role by adhering to animal health and trade regulations.
“Farmers should implement animal health and welfare programmes to boost productivity and their participation in the livestock market,” he said.
When developing these programmes, Ngaruka advised farmers to consider the prevalence of diseases in their environment. This includes notifiable diseases—those that must be controlled through annual vaccinations. These diseases include Anthrax, Brucellosis, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which are closely monitored for trade and economic reasons.
“Export markets demand that meat comes from areas free from or cleared of these diseases,” Ngaruka explained.
Farmers should also be aware of other diseases, such as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), botulism, black quarter, pulpy kidney, and pasteurellosis, all of which can affect livestock health.
Another key aspect of animal health is the control of parasites, both internal and external. Ngaruka highlighted the importance of parasite management, as they can cause serious illnesses in livestock and reduce the quality of meat, resulting in economic losses.
“Parasites can be deadly, and their impact on meat quality can be financially damaging to farmers,” he said.
In conclusion, Ngaruka emphasised the need for farmers to be proactive in maintaining animal health to protect Namibia's livestock industry and sustain its global reputation.
