Farmers welcome sheep export ratio

SHEEP farmers in the South have applauded Government on its provisional decision to increase the export quota for the South African market.

However, in the same breath, sheep farmers pushed for a free-market system for live exports of small livestock. The increase in the export quota announced last week means that only three sheep need to be slaughtered locally to export one animal on the hoof to South African abattoirs.Previously, only one sheep could be exported for every six sheep slaughtered locally.At a press conference at Mariental on Tuesday, Hardap and Karas Sheep Producers Action Committee Chairman Johan Brand said the restriction on live exports still remains a “great concern” for farmers.He said with the pending grazing shortage in the dry season because of erratic and poor rains, farmers need to export more animals on the hoof.”The pending drought has a knock-on effect, therefore we need to get rid of the large numbers of animals,” he said.Brand revealed that 130 000 animals are ready for slaughtering.However, he said that no small-stock marketing had taken place for about two months.”This is having a negative impact on the country’s economy,” he added.Most farmers represented on the Action Committee say they are getting the short end of the stick, since South African market prices are higher than what local abattoirs pay them for their sheep.”The abattoirs pocket a big chunk at the expense of the country’s economy and the high unemployment rate,” one farmer said.Farmers say they are losing millions of dollars because of the regulation, since they spend more money on fodder for sheep than what they get back by marketing them.In addition, they claim that the three abattoirs in the southern regions – Farmers Meat Market, Namco and Aranos Abattoir – are unable to meet the farmer’s demands to have more animals slaughtered.”These abattoirs are protected by this regulation since they paid kick-backs to senior lawmakers to have the regulation implemented,” one farmer said on condition of anonymity.The increase in the export quota announced last week means that only three sheep need to be slaughtered locally to export one animal on the hoof to South African abattoirs.Previously, only one sheep could be exported for every six sheep slaughtered locally.At a press conference at Mariental on Tuesday, Hardap and Karas Sheep Producers Action Committee Chairman Johan Brand said the restriction on live exports still remains a “great concern” for farmers.He said with the pending grazing shortage in the dry season because of erratic and poor rains, farmers need to export more animals on the hoof.”The pending drought has a knock-on effect, therefore we need to get rid of the large numbers of animals,” he said.Brand revealed that 130 000 animals are ready for slaughtering.However, he said that no small-stock marketing had taken place for about two months.”This is having a negative impact on the country’s economy,” he added.Most farmers represented on the Action Committee say they are getting the short end of the stick, since South African market prices are higher than what local abattoirs pay them for their sheep.”The abattoirs pocket a big chunk at the expense of the country’s economy and the high unemployment rate,” one farmer said.Farmers say they are losing millions of dollars because of the regulation, since they spend more money on fodder for sheep than what they get back by marketing them.In addition, they claim that the three abattoirs in the southern regions – Farmers Meat Market, Namco and Aranos Abattoir – are unable to meet the farmer’s demands to have more animals slaughtered.”These abattoirs are protected by this regulation since they paid kick-backs to senior lawmakers to have the regulation implemented,” one farmer said on condition of anonymity.