The Meat Board of Namibia has called on meat and meat product outlets, tourism shops and convenience stores to participate in its meat route initiative.
The meat route was developed last year to showcase Namibia’s finest meat and provide visitors with a guide of the best the country has offer.
The route will run along Namibia’s main tourism roads and will indicate to tourists or visitors where Namibian red meat and red meat products can be purchased.
Red meat and red meat product outlets, tourism shops and convenience stores in or en route to Noordoewer, Ariamsvlei, Lüderitz, Keetmanshoop, Mariental, Sesriem, Sawakopmund, Windhoek, Gobabis, Okahandja, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Otavi, Tsumeb, Rundu and Katima Mulilo can apply.
The closing date for applications is 30 September.
A meat route brochure will be available at all points of entry to Namibia, on the Meat Board’s website and on social media.
This information will also be shared with tourism companies.
VCF maintenance
In other news, the Meat Board has increased its contributions to support the directorate of veterinary services with the maintenance of the veterinary cordon fence (VCF).
It will also specifically assist with the appointment of a four-person maintenance team.
According to the board, the aim of the team is to assist the directorate with the maintenance of particularly the Meat Board-funded electrified sections of the VCF.
“Namibia’s elephant population has grown to such an extent that breaches of the VCF occur daily and the only method to prevent the damage is to electrify the fence.”
Furthermore, the Meat Board urged all producers to submit stock brands and herd information forms before 31 October.
These forms are available at state veterinarian offices and online. The collected information will be used to update the stock brand system, the Namibian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS) and the Meat Board producer system. Herd number information will further be used to update and improve census data.
Farm audits
Meanwhile, the board’s Farm Assured Namibian Meat (FAN Meat) office is currently conducting farm audits.
Sixty establishments that supply export abattoirs with slaughter-ready cattle and sheep were selected.
Auditors will give notice to selected livestock producers well in advance before audits take place, it said.
[Bron – Republikein]