Angolan buyers push up small livestock prices in Kunene

OPUWO – Goat and sheep prices remain high in Kunene North, despite expectations that they would drop during the first week of schools re-opening in January.

The prices for both cattle and goats hiked substantially in September last year.
A big ox currently goes for between N$9 000 and N$10 000, while a big goat is around N$1 500.
Local small livestock buyers expected the prices of small livestock to drop after the festive season, but the prices are yet to drop due to competition from Angolan small stock buyers.
More than 10 Angolan small livestock buyers are currently in Opuwo with the intention to buy goats and sheep to resell in that country.
The Angolan buyers are pushing the prices up, which is a good thing for local livestock farmers.
However, it disadvantages small, local open market meat sellers as they are now facing difficulties of getting affordable animals to buy.
Angolan buyers sometimes buy livestock from 50 to 120 goats.
Nelito Chi, one of the Angolan buyers, told Nampa on Friday that he came to Opuwo at the beginning of January, and he needs to buy at least 100 to 120 goats but he is finding it difficult to even buy five goats a day.
‘I used to buy at least five goats per day in December last year, but now we are many who want goats, and this causes business to slow down,’ said Chi.
According to him, the goats he is buying are meant for different purposes. Some are to be sold to butcheries in Angola, others for open market meat sellers, while some are for farming purposes.
Another Angolan buyer, Antonio Sapalo, says business is going slow.
He wants to buy at least 50 goats. – Nampa