Livestock identification campaign extended

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) has, in collaboration with the Meat Board of Namibia, extended the stock brands and Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability system (Namlits) awareness campaign to 1 December.

According to a statement issued by Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, the executive director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, the campaign which started on 17 July was set to end on 31 October.

“The campaign has been very successful in updating livestock keepers information on the Namlits database, as well as stock brands.

“However, we realised that a number of livestock farmers have been overcrowding state veterinary offices countrywide and Meat Board offices to update stock brands ahead of the deadline and this warranted the extension of the campaign,” said Nghituwamata.

Farmers must bring along completed prescribed forms that are available at all points of verification and updates, Ngituwamata said.

“They should also bring along a certified copy of identification documents, as well as a certified copy of the stock brand card or stock brand certificate,” she said.

Nghituwamata expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their active participation and cooperation during the last four months of the awareness campaign and urged livestock farmers who had not updated their stock brands to do so during the extended period.

“All state veterinary offices in the country and the Meat Board office in Windhoek will be able to assist farmers accordingly,” she said.

Namlits is a new national mandatory campaign launched by the Meat Board of Namibia and DVS requiring all stock brand holders to submit a verification form.

The Namlits programme is in compliance with European Union requirements and animal disease risk management and validates the Farm Assured Namibian Meat Scheme.

It is being implemented in the FMD-free zone, but will be extended to the rest of the country soon.

The purpose of the programme is to enhance cattle identification through branding, herd identification by six months of age to ensure batch traceability. – email: matthew@naqmibian.com.na

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.