The Executive Commissioner for Agriculture at the Ovaherero Traditional Authority says farmers need to ensure the optimum health of their animals for them to produce more.
Dr. Baby Kaurivi-Katunahange said this during a livestock health education meeting at the HereroFest in Okahandja.
Dr. Kaurivi-Katunahange noted that it is important to keep animals healthy to improve production and reproduction.
Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua has cautioned that the exportation of livestock on hooves will collapse the already struggling local abattoirs and feedlot throughputs.
Uerikua shared these remarks at the official opening of the Okamatapati Agricultural and Industrial Expo.
He says the export of over 2,500 weaners on hooves to South Africa in 2022 alone is concerning, and some farmers are now seeking alternative markets to get value for their livestock.
The Meat Corporation of Namibia (MeatCo) has spent N$1.1 million on setting up livestock auction pens at Eiseb 10 Growth Point in the Otjombinde Constituency of the Omaheke Region.
Usually, farmers would make use of the Gobabis auction pens, which are 350 kilometres away.
Speaking at the official handover of the auction pens at Eiseb 10, MeatCo Board Member Usiel Kandjii emphasised that the corporation has the mandate to develop basic marketing infrastructure within communal areas to allow producers to become part of the value chain.
Otjombinde Councillor Wenzel Kavaka is pleased with the progress made in developing the new settlement, Eiseb 10 Growth Point.
Developments include a livestock auction pen and the construction of an oxidation pond.
Eiseb 10 Growth Point is a remote area, but services are now reaching the community.
Kavaka says that given the good number of livestock in the area, the newly constructed auction pen will benefit farmers immensely and cut costs, as farmers had to travel more than 200 kilometres to the nearest pen.
