Livestock sector focuses on herd repopulation as marketing declines
Namibia’s cattle and small livestock sectors experienced significant shifts during the first half of 2025, with farmers prioritising herd rebuilding over marketing following years of herd reductions caused by droughts, according to the Second Quarterly Agri-Review compiled by the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU).
Cattle marketing declined sharply by 56% during the first half of 2025, while sheep marketing followed a similar downward trajectory, falling by 41%. Goat marketing proved more resilient, with about 53 000 goats exported to South Africa – a 10% decrease from the previous year. Approximately 60% of animals sold at auctions were retained for herd rebuilding in 2025, compared to the typical retention rate of 2–5%.
Production costs and profitability improvements
Livestock production costs fell by 2% in the twelve months ending June 2025, driven primarily by a 10% decline in fuel prices. This reduction offset higher electricity costs, which rose by 3% in the second quarter. Maintenance and fixed improvement costs dropped by 3% annually, while capital expenditure decreased by 5%.
These cost reductions coincided with improved farmer profitability in 2025 after two consecutive years of drought-related losses. Livestock prices strengthened across all categories: cattle prices increased by 10–12%. A2 cattle prices rose from N$59.25 per kg in the first half of 2024 to N$65.15 per kg in 2025, while B2 cattle increased from N$58.18 to N$65.09 per kg. C2 cattle recorded the strongest percentage gain at 12%, rising from N$56.77 to N$63.78 per kg.
Small livestock prices rose even more sharply. A2 lamb prices jumped 23% from N$74.84 to N$92.00 per kg, while C2 sheep prices climbed 27% from N$48.08 to N$61.27 per kg. Weaner prices rose 21% from N$27.03 to N$32.81 per kg.
Cattle marketing and export trends
Cattle marketing fell 56%, from 211,610 head in the first half of 2024 to 92 600 head in 2025. The decline was mainly due to reduced live exports to South Africa, which fell by 76%. Monthly exports averaged 4,330 head in 2025, compared to 17 783 in 2024.
A notable development was the retention of around 60% of animals sold at auctions for herd rebuilding, compared to the historical average of 2–5%. This deliberate strategy aims to increase the future supply of slaughter-ready animals, supporting local processing and strengthening national food security.
Beef exports halved, dropping from 10 968 tonnes in the first half of 2024 to 5 461 tonnes in 2025. Declines were seen across key markets including South Africa, the United Kingdom and China, reflecting reduced slaughter at export abattoirs.
Small stock
Sheep marketing declined 41%, from 517 760 head in the first half of 2024 to 306 233 head in 2025. This was driven by a 41% drop in slaughter at export abattoirs, a 27% fall in slaughter by registered butchers and a 50% reduction in live exports to South Africa.
Of the 71 000 sheep slaughtered in Namibia, 61% were processed by B & C Class abattoirs, with only 39% handled by export abattoirs. Factors influencing this included longer payment periods at Namibian abattoirs (around three weeks compared to three to five days in South Africa), stricter grading requirements, and better B & C grade prices offered domestically.
Sheep meat exports fell from 405 tonnes in 2024 to 155 tonnes in the first half of 2025. Export destinations were Botswana (48%), South Africa (37%) and Norway (15%).
Goat marketing was more resilient, with 53 134 goats exported to South Africa – down 10% from 59 272 in 2024. Prices, however, reached record highs, averaging N$1 408 per head compared to N$1 035 in 2024. This surpassed the previous peak of N$1,395 per head recorded in 2022.
International markets
Globally, beef prices strengthened in the first half of 2025. EU R3 Steer prices rose from N$103.02 to N$133.73 per kg, while US prices increased from N$120.60 to N$136.56 per kg. Australian prices improved from N$65.36 to N$74.50 per kg, and South African RMAA A2 prices climbed from N$55.21 to N$63.10 per kg.
These increases were attributed to shrinking cattle herds, rising feed costs and growing consumer demand. The US cattle herd is now at its lowest level since the 1950s, while the EU faces supply constraints in major producers such as France, Spain and Germany. EU beef production for 2025 is projected at 6.73 million tonnes, down 1% from 2024.
Strategic outlook
The herd rebuilding phase is a necessary step following years of drought-related destocking since 2019. The report highlights this cyclical pattern as being closely tied to Namibia’s highly variable rainfall. While rebuilding constrains the market in the short term, it is expected to deliver a stronger livestock economy from 2026 onwards.
Long-term challenges include bush encroachment, which reduces grazing capacity, and Namibia’s structural reliance on live exports. The report suggests that improved rangeland management strategies could double sector output, helping farmers rebuild herds more quickly and sustainably while reducing the time needed for weaners to reach slaughter weight.
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Cattle marketing declined sharply by 56% during the first half of 2025, while sheep marketing followed a similar downward trajectory, falling by 41%. Goat marketing proved more resilient, with about 53 000 goats exported to South Africa – a 10% decrease from the previous year. Approximately 60% of animals sold at auctions were retained for herd rebuilding in 2025, compared to the typical retention rate of 2–5%.
Production costs and profitability improvements
Livestock production costs fell by 2% in the twelve months ending June 2025, driven primarily by a 10% decline in fuel prices. This reduction offset higher electricity costs, which rose by 3% in the second quarter. Maintenance and fixed improvement costs dropped by 3% annually, while capital expenditure decreased by 5%.
These cost reductions coincided with improved farmer profitability in 2025 after two consecutive years of drought-related losses. Livestock prices strengthened across all categories: cattle prices increased by 10–12%. A2 cattle prices rose from N$59.25 per kg in the first half of 2024 to N$65.15 per kg in 2025, while B2 cattle increased from N$58.18 to N$65.09 per kg. C2 cattle recorded the strongest percentage gain at 12%, rising from N$56.77 to N$63.78 per kg.
Small livestock prices rose even more sharply. A2 lamb prices jumped 23% from N$74.84 to N$92.00 per kg, while C2 sheep prices climbed 27% from N$48.08 to N$61.27 per kg. Weaner prices rose 21% from N$27.03 to N$32.81 per kg.
Cattle marketing and export trends
Cattle marketing fell 56%, from 211,610 head in the first half of 2024 to 92 600 head in 2025. The decline was mainly due to reduced live exports to South Africa, which fell by 76%. Monthly exports averaged 4,330 head in 2025, compared to 17 783 in 2024.
A notable development was the retention of around 60% of animals sold at auctions for herd rebuilding, compared to the historical average of 2–5%. This deliberate strategy aims to increase the future supply of slaughter-ready animals, supporting local processing and strengthening national food security.
Beef exports halved, dropping from 10 968 tonnes in the first half of 2024 to 5 461 tonnes in 2025. Declines were seen across key markets including South Africa, the United Kingdom and China, reflecting reduced slaughter at export abattoirs.
Small stock
Sheep marketing declined 41%, from 517 760 head in the first half of 2024 to 306 233 head in 2025. This was driven by a 41% drop in slaughter at export abattoirs, a 27% fall in slaughter by registered butchers and a 50% reduction in live exports to South Africa.
Of the 71 000 sheep slaughtered in Namibia, 61% were processed by B & C Class abattoirs, with only 39% handled by export abattoirs. Factors influencing this included longer payment periods at Namibian abattoirs (around three weeks compared to three to five days in South Africa), stricter grading requirements, and better B & C grade prices offered domestically.
Sheep meat exports fell from 405 tonnes in 2024 to 155 tonnes in the first half of 2025. Export destinations were Botswana (48%), South Africa (37%) and Norway (15%).
Goat marketing was more resilient, with 53 134 goats exported to South Africa – down 10% from 59 272 in 2024. Prices, however, reached record highs, averaging N$1 408 per head compared to N$1 035 in 2024. This surpassed the previous peak of N$1,395 per head recorded in 2022.
International markets
Globally, beef prices strengthened in the first half of 2025. EU R3 Steer prices rose from N$103.02 to N$133.73 per kg, while US prices increased from N$120.60 to N$136.56 per kg. Australian prices improved from N$65.36 to N$74.50 per kg, and South African RMAA A2 prices climbed from N$55.21 to N$63.10 per kg.
These increases were attributed to shrinking cattle herds, rising feed costs and growing consumer demand. The US cattle herd is now at its lowest level since the 1950s, while the EU faces supply constraints in major producers such as France, Spain and Germany. EU beef production for 2025 is projected at 6.73 million tonnes, down 1% from 2024.
Strategic outlook
The herd rebuilding phase is a necessary step following years of drought-related destocking since 2019. The report highlights this cyclical pattern as being closely tied to Namibia’s highly variable rainfall. While rebuilding constrains the market in the short term, it is expected to deliver a stronger livestock economy from 2026 onwards.
Long-term challenges include bush encroachment, which reduces grazing capacity, and Namibia’s structural reliance on live exports. The report suggests that improved rangeland management strategies could double sector output, helping farmers rebuild herds more quickly and sustainably while reducing the time needed for weaners to reach slaughter weight.
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