THE Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) will pay out an additional premium to cattle farmers due to exceptionally good prices received for Namibian meat products in Europe over the past months.
“Outstandingly high returns were made in Europe this year and the board of directors decided that an additional N$1 per kilogram for each slaughtered animal is to be paid to farmers on all cattle delivered to Meatco from February 1 2008,” the company announced yesterday. The good prices for Namibian meat products are said to be because of the absence of Brazilian beef in the European market due to foot-and-mouth disease and resultant unsatisfactory animal health control standards in some parts of that country.Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter, selling more than N$30 billion of beef last year.It is expected that Brazil will return to the export market next year.Meatco’s premium payments on all cattle slaughtered by August 31 2008 will be done at the end of September.The additional N$1 per kg premium for all animals slaughtered from September 1 will be indicated on the slaughter advice along with the normal payments.Because of the higher prices Meatco is earning for its meat products overseas, the price gap between carcasses that produce small cuts and carcasses that deliver large cuts has increased.The export premium difference between a carcass of 229 kg and that of 230 kg could be as high as N$1 per kg or more.Meatco has therefore amended its export premium pricing structure for all carcasses between 190 kg and 230 kg.The export premium between the masses now differs more gradually.Similar problems occurred with carcasses 190 kg or lighter.”It has thus also been decided to pay an additional market premium for all carcasses from 150 kg to 190 kg with an exponential curve between the mentioned mass range,” Meatco said yesterday.The good prices for Namibian meat products are said to be because of the absence of Brazilian beef in the European market due to foot-and-mouth disease and resultant unsatisfactory animal health control standards in some parts of that country.Brazil is the world’s biggest beef exporter, selling more than N$30 billion of beef last year.It is expected that Brazil will return to the export market next year.Meatco’s premium payments on all cattle slaughtered by August 31 2008 will be done at the end of September.The additional N$1 per kg premium for all animals slaughtered from September 1 will be indicated on the slaughter advice along with the normal payments.Because of the higher prices Meatco is earning for its meat products overseas, the price gap between carcasses that produce small cuts and carcasses that deliver large cuts has increased.The export premium difference between a carcass of 229 kg and that of 230 kg could be as high as N$1 per kg or more.Meatco has therefore amended its export premium pricing structure for all carcasses between 190 kg and 230 kg.The export premium between the masses now differs more gradually.Similar problems occurred with carcasses 190 kg or lighter.”It has thus also been decided to pay an additional market premium for all carcasses from 150 kg to 190 kg with an exponential curve between the mentioned mass range,” Meatco said yesterday.
