Ostrich Production abattoir diversifies

OSTRICH Production Namibia (OPN), which recently upgraded its abattoir and tannery at the cost of N$21 million, on Monday started slaughtering sheep on a trial basis.

OPN, situated 20 kilometres outside Keetmanshoop, employs 156 workers and is currently exporting ostrich products to the European markets. OPN Managing Director, Frikkie Mouton, said the trail slaughtering process was done in the presence officials from the Meat Board, Veterinary Services and the abattoir.He told The Namibian that OPN anticipated slaughtering 30 000 ostriches, 270 000 small livestock per annum and 25 000 game during the haunting season.The company currently slaughters 22 000 ostriches which is well below its full capacity of 90 000 ostriches.”Therefore it was not economically viable for ostrich slaughtering alone but to incorporate small livestock to meet our operational expenses”, said Mouton.With the OPN abattoir, communal and commercial farmers in the Karas Region would no longer export their small livestock to South Africa for slaughtering.OPN Managing Director, Frikkie Mouton, said the trail slaughtering process was done in the presence officials from the Meat Board, Veterinary Services and the abattoir.He told The Namibian that OPN anticipated slaughtering 30 000 ostriches, 270 000 small livestock per annum and 25 000 game during the haunting season.The company currently slaughters 22 000 ostriches which is well below its full capacity of 90 000 ostriches.”Therefore it was not economically viable for ostrich slaughtering alone but to incorporate small livestock to meet our operational expenses”, said Mouton.With the OPN abattoir, communal and commercial farmers in the Karas Region would no longer export their small livestock to South Africa for slaughtering.