27 Jan 2015

Maun abattoir has exceeded its target of slaughtering 16 000 cattle per year despite the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in some areas of Ngamiland District.

In an interview, the plant manager, Mr Mothobi Mothobi, said last year the abattoir performed exceptionally well, as they managed to slaughter 21 000 cattle, adding that the number included the live cattle exported to Zimbabwe. 

He said the number had increased compared to the past years, noting that in 2013, they slaughtered 13 500 cattle and 6 700 cattle in 2012. Over 4 000 live cattle were exported to Zimbabwe market, he added.

Mr Mothobi said the recent FMD cases which were recorded in some zones in the Okavango district did not affect production. He noted that only farmers in the contaminated zones were affected. 

Meanwhile, the recent resurgence of FMD cases were recorded in June 2014 at sub-zone 2a in Mohembo East and in October at Chaa crush at sub-zone 2c in Tubu. Mr Mothobi said when the outbreak occurred; they stopped buying cattle from zone 2c because some areas were affected. 

Arrangement was made with some farmers surrounding Maun to supply the abattoir if they experience shortage. The abattoir slaughters 95 cattle per day. He also said in 2012 and 2013, they experienced shortage of cattle as some zones were closed and they bought cattle from zone 2d hence the backup arrangement.

In March last year, he said they received a letter from department of Veterinary Services informing them that 2c was open. Their arrangement, he added was to slaughter 9000 cattle from that area but farmers wrote to them complaining that the quota was too small.

Mr Mothobi said farmers requested that the quota be increased because they stayed years without selling. The Quota Committee agreed to increase the number by another 9000.  He said their target this year was to slaughter 24000 cattle and they had engaged farmers associations to ensure consistency in cattle coverage. 

“Maun abattoir is growing and currently plans are underway to shut down and refurbish the abattoir to make it an automated one,” he added. The upgrading would go on for a month either in March or April, he added.

He said upgrading of the plant would increase efficiency and allow them to slaughter 120 cattle per day. It would also improve the deboning plant, he said. ENDS