The Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Akolang Tombale, has said cattle in the communal comprising 80 percent of the national beef herd are not fit for the European Union export market unless they are put in feedlots fastening schemes ranging from 45 to 90 days.
Addressing Kweneng cattle farmers at the Molepolole Kgotla, Dr. Tombale said the current beef market status quo of communal farmers ownership dominance, where animals free range and the majority lack financial resources and wherewithal to purchase veterinary drugs and the right feedstock formulae means that in the absence of feedlot schemes, animals sold to BMC for slaughter will be deficient in weight, grade, quality and well finished heavy carcasses in compliance with the uncompromising EU export market requirements.
“As the 3rd largest export revenue earner, the beef market relies heavily on farmers’ commitment and willingness to provide a consistent supply of quality beef fit for both the export and domestic markets. However, the biggest challenge confronting BMC’s failure to tap into the lucrative EU market emanates from among other stringent requirement concerning the July 2012 livestock identification and traceability from birth to slaughter, prescribed feedstock formula, with no traces of growth hormone enhancers.”
Dr. Tombale’s remarks concerning the right feedstock mix come in the wake of contemporaneous media reports identifying one such bovine growth hormone, salinomycin, since banned in the EU. Based on the media reports, in July 2012 BMC exported 100 tones of beef to EU, which were recalled because it was found to be contaminated with salinomycin. The proscribed enhancer had been discovered through the National Residue Surveillance Plan routine testing and the recall cost BMC more than P3 million.
He said that due to the recall as a result of the presence of the banned substance, BMC was between September 2012 and January 2013, compelled to abandon the EU market and divert beef exports from 20 000 slaughtered animals to South Africa, experiencing a comparatively significant reduction in revenue earnings.
Dr. Tombale said BMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, will buy animals and put them in feedlots to produce prime grade beef. These young animals require 40 to 90 days in feedlots to reach the desired weight through the right feed-finish. Farmers would benefit from the feedlot specialist management such as the Letlhakeng Feedlot, because an animal valued at P2 500 would fetch around P6 000 to P8 000. Since returns from the feedlots would come with speed, falling in line with government’s poverty alleviation strategy.
