Cattle marketing drops further by 68% in March (Agri Monitor)

Low quantities exported to Zim, Botswana.
According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB), on a year-on-year basis, live exports are 80.15% lower than observed in March 2024.
Ellanie Smit
  • 23 Hours Ago
Total marketing of cattle decreased by 68.92% on a year-on-year basis, from the 35 844 cattle marketed in March 2024 to 11 141 in March this year.

According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board (LLPB), on a year-on-year basis, live exports are 80.15% lower than observed in March 2024.

The LLPB said that exports decreased by 5.43% from the 4 510 cattle heads exported in February 2025 to 4 265 cattle heads exported during March 2025.

It said that South Africa absorbed the majority of cattle (weaner) exports from Namibia, while lower quantities were exported to Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Weaner auction prices increased by N$2.27/kg from the price of N$28.26/kg observed during February 2025 to N$30.53/kg in March 2025.

Meanwhile, the total marketing of sheep decreased by 35.80%, from the 94 868 sheep marketed in March 2024 to 60 902 sheep marketed during March this year.

Live exports decreased by 38.09% year-on-year.

Furthermore, export abattoir performance decreased by 20.48% on a year-on-year basis, while B and C class abattoir slaughtering also decreased by 28.95%, from 7 217 sheep slaughtered during March 2024 to 5 128 sheep slaughtered in March 2025.

“The sheep industry continues to be dominated by high live exports,” said the LLPB.

It said that the majority of live sheep exports (99.48%) were destined for South Africa, followed by Botswana with 0.52%.

With regards to the goat sector, the total marketing of goats decreased by 1.93%, from the 9 649 goats marketed in March 2024 to 9 463 marketed during March this year.

During the period under review, 9 441 goats were exported live, compared to 9 175 exported in March 2024.

This represented an increase of 2.9% on a year-on-year basis and 39.83% on a monthly basis.

The LLPB said that during the period under review, exports to South Africa made up 98.04% of total live goat exports, followed by Botswana with 1.38% and Zimbabwe with 0.58%.