By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Hangala
Statistics for 2025 on the total number of cattle marketed and slaughtered for the year show that the country is still not out of the drought-induced slump, as producers continue to restock.
According to the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia, updates in 2025 show that only 205,073 head of cattle were supplied for both slaughtering and live exports. This represents a 44.9% decline from the 371,982 head marketed in 2024. The Board noted that this reflects persistent supply constraints and herd recovery dynamics.
As for total slaughter for 2025, abattoirs across the country slaughtered 145,849 head, down 24.9% from 194,315 head recorded in 2024.
Researcher and statistician, Dortea Nakandjibi, explained that the sustained reduction in slaughter activity reflects ongoing herd rebuilding decisions following earlier drought conditions and constrained producer off-take.
Overall, the year reflected a sector in cyclical transition, while highlighting the need for production recovery, diversification, and value chain strengthening going forward.
Namibia is also a key supplier of weaners to various feedlots, especially to those in South Africa.
Live cattle exports declined sharply in 2025, falling from 177,667 head in 2024 to 59,224 head, a 66.7% contraction. This decline can also be interpreted in two ways: the decline availed more animals for domestic abattoirs and they were offering better prices, or the country simply did not have enough animals.
The number of domestic slaughters affects the volume of beef production and exports. According to the Board, beef export performance in 2025 was similarly supply-driven. Total beef exports closed at 13,4 million kilograms (kg) by the end of December 2025, compared to 22,7 million kg over the same period in 2024, a 41.1% decline.
According to Nakandjibi, the 9.3 million kg decline was driven almost entirely by reduced slaughter supply rather than demand conditions.
The beef was exported mostly to the European markets, having absorbed 12,6 million kg, accounting for 94.0% of total beef exports.
African markets accounted for 546,514 kg, representing 4.1% of total exports. Within Africa, Lesotho was the main destination, taking up 354,161 kg (2.6%), followed by South Africa (154,103 kg; 1.2%), while exports to Angola (37,889 kg; 0.3%) and Botswana (361 kg; 0.1%) remained minimal.
Exports to the rest of the world totalled 262,507 kg, accounting for 2.0% of total exports. China absorbed 238,497 kg (1.8%), while other Asian markets accounted for 24,011 kg (0.2%).
Looking ahead, Nakandjibi noted that livestock marketing in 2026 is expected to remain supply-constrained in the short term, particularly in the cattle sector, as herd recovery and rebuilding dynamics continue to limit slaughter availability.
Therefore, livestock marketing volumes are expected to remain gradual and biologically driven, particularly in the cattle sector, with meaningful volume improvements dependent on improved animal availability rather than shifts in market demand, she projected.
Nakandjibia also indicated that the Board will continue to monitor developments of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana, while working with stakeholders to ensure coordinated preventative measures as well as a robust risk management plan for the livestock sector.
