Weaner industry fears put to rest

The 21-day ban imposed by South Africa on the movement of cattle in response to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak and the ensuing closure of the Namibian border to weaner exports should not have a disastrous impact on the local weaner industry.

So says Paul Klein, general manager of auctions at Agra.

"People sometimes get the idea that our weaner producers are totally dependent on the South African feedlots, which is not the case. There are quite a few local buyers who buy weaners and let them grow out on the field for 12 to 15 months, after which they market them as steers."

He says buyers of weaners whose animals are already in isolation pens awaiting the necessary animal health clearances for export to South Africa will have to give these animals full feed for the next two or so weeks.

"For them, the ban has a cost implication, but not for farmers who bought weaners to raise them on the field."

Fears allayed

Klein says that the weaner auction season is fortunately also coming to an end, with only three Agra weaning calf auctions remaining on the calendar.

"At a weaner calf auction last week in the South, the buyers were, in any case, only local producers and not feedlots."

Roelie Venter, executive manager of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), says that when South Africa announced the ban last week, the cattle industry was very worried that it would lower auction prices.

"Last week there was great uncertainty about prices, but they remained fairly constant. Because Meatco is again able to pay producers who slaughtered there, there is cash in operation. This should support auction prices," he says.

Way forward

Klein says the supply at auctions may be lower in the coming week because producers are holding back animals in anticipation of the events in South Africa.

"It can also bring price relief as the lower supply prevents prices from falling too much."

He says the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) has requested agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein to meet with his South African counterpart, Thoko Didiza, to discuss and determine whether Namibia could be allowed to transport weaners in sealed trucks to feedlots despite the ban.

According to Venter, Namibian weaners from the FMD-free farming areas south of the veterinary cordon fence do not pose a threat to South Africa. He says that the directorate of veterinary services seal the trucks as per protocol on which the weaners are transported and issue the necessary health certificates.

Schlettwein says the Namibian veterinary authority was in discussion with South Africa and explained the situation. According to them, the ban applies to all cattle, including those from Namibia. He says the chances of that changing are very slim.

"Cattle from here do not pose a risk to South Africa as such, but cattle from some of the feedlots there are infected with the virus," he says.

Schlettwein says it is important that South Africa prevents the further spread of the disease in the next 21 days and brings it under control.