Nearly 100,000 Cattle Marketed In Q4

NAMIBIA - Cattle marketing and milk production in Namibia has improved during the third quarter, but the number of small stock marketed dropped, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) said in its latest quarterly bulletin.

21 December 2011

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Africa

TheNamibian reports that a total of 96,413 cattle found their way to market during the last quarter, nearly two per cent more than the previous one.

Of this, 41 per cent was marketed locally. The BoN said the number of cattle marketed in the local market declined by 17.3 per cent on a quarterly basis despite increasing slightly by 0.1 per cent on an annual basis. Cattle marketed to the South African market increased by 21.7 per cent on a quarterly basis during the third quarter of 2011, while it declined by 18 per cent on an annual basis.

“This indicates that a lower number of cattle was marketed locally compared to cattle marketed to neighbouring South Africa due to favourable prices in the South African market,” the BoN said.

Small stock marketed declined both on a quarterly and annual basis during the third quarter, the bank said.

Compared to the second quarter, the total number of small stock marketed locally and in South Africa dropped by 28.7 per cent to 236 237.

“This decline was mostly due to the fact that the third quarter is usually a dry season and small stock are not marketable during this period,” the BoN said.

The number of small stock marketed also declined by 27.1 per cent when compared to the third quarter of 2010.

“The number of small stock marketed in the local market declined substantially by 36.1 per cent on a quarterly basis and by 27 per cent on an annual basis. Small stock marketed to the South African market also declined by 11.3 per cent on a quarterly basis and by 27.4 per cent on an annual basis over the same period,” the BoN said.

After dropping by 2.2 per cent during the second quarter, milk production picked up by 13.7 per cent to 5.6 million litres during the third quarter. On an annual basis, milk production increased by 4.8 per cent, the BoN said.

“The third and fourth quarters are generally considered to be the peak season for milk production; this is mainly because of favourable weather conditions,” it said.