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Cattle rustling threatens beef sector
NAMIBIA’S entire meat industry, worth an estimated N$3 billion, is in jeopardy because of rapidly increasing stock theft.
Farmers and industry insiders say that the illegal movement of animals is compromising international industry standards, posing a threat to export markets and loss of income for the country as a whole and individual farmers.
The exact figures are difficult to come by, as there is no system in place where the Namibian Police record reported thefts and many farmers don’t even report smaller thefts.
Although there is agreement in the industry that stock theft is a “significant and serious problem”, the lack of a central database providing detailed information on the number of livestock stolen each year makes it difficult to organise efforts to control the problem.
Kai Rumpf of the Livestock Producers’ Association of Namibia says stock theft in Namibia is on the increase, and in some places, it has increased “dramatically”.
Through stock theft, farmers lose significant investments and receive zero income, and meat is funnelled into Namibia’s “informal meat market” where it is smuggled to unregistered slaughterhouses within the country, or into South Africa or Angola.
The ongoing investigation into an alleged stock theft syndicate operating in the northeastern and central parts of Namibia has focused attention on Namibia’s livestock traceability system, which monitors the movement of livestock in Namibia.
The system is divided into the identification of an individual animal, and the ownership of that animal. The branding of animals identifies the original owner and subsequent owners, while the FAN meat system requires the first owner of an animal to place an ear tag on an animal which will stay in place, and identify that animal, for the duration of its existence.
Ear tags remain on animals, while the animals are re-branded, in particular places according to the law, each time they change ownership. However, the ear tag, which is marked with the original brand, must at all times match the animal’s first owner’s brand.
Although farmers and industry insiders say that this system is “very good”, it is exploited, manipulated and abused in instances of stock theft.
“The system is based on honest people,” says Dr Alexander Toto, the National Coordinator of the Livestock and Traceability System.
He added, however, that “the industry is not endowed with honest people … and the system is not meant to be a deterrent to stock theft”.
Dr Toto added that the principal function of the system is to assist “veterinarian services to manage disease risk,” and to ensure traceability, which is an important factor for Namibia’s reputation and credibility in the international export market.
Stock theft “threatens the integrity of the traceability system and the confidence of our export partners in Namibian beef. It affects the economy.”
At stake is an organic beef market worth approximately N$3 billion and the uncontrolled illegal movement of animals in the country could lead to a loss of “confidence in Namibian beef,” Toto said.
The ear tag system, and the branding of animals, is supposed to ensure the traceability of animals in Namibia to their point of origin and to “provide full assurance of total quality control,” a FAN meat document explains.
In addition, producers and buyers are required by law to document each sale and purchase of cattle or other livestock, on departure and arrival forms, with the information eventually fed into the NamLITS database. This database keeps track of every livestock animal in Namibia, and its movements from sellers to buyers.
However, the system, as well as the FAN meat system, allegedly lacks a vital ingredient to its success, namely sufficient manpower to control and supervise the system.
“The traceability system is very good, but the manpower is not there,” says Sigi von Luettwitz, a cattle farmer.
He says the traceability system is not complicated, but a lot of manpower and logistics are required to control it effectively.
