The Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform Ministry has acquired critical livestock handling infrastructure to improve the beef value chain in the northern communal areas.

The equipment, acquired at a stated cost of N$2.2 million, was acquired through the livestock support program under the Eleventh European Development Fund.

The mobile livestock handling facilities include a five-cattle body clamp workstation, three animal weight scales, and five roadworthy heavy-duty ramps.

They are designed for multiple purposes, including vaccination, branding, dehorning, and weighing, to provide farmers with comprehensive solutions to conduct essential livestock management activities.

The equipment will be distributed to the agricultural development offices in the Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Omusati, Kunene, and Kavango East and West regions.

The equipment manufacturer, Managing Director of Henco Engineering, Tiaan Jacobsz, elaborates on the functionality of the livestock handling facilities.

The loading ramps will be allocated to five livestock trucks that were procured under the livestock support program and distributed to the government-owned northern communal area abattoirs.

With the new equipment, animal health and productivity are expected to improve, good enough for domestic and export markets.