Meatco shows resilience amid historic decline in cattle supply

Meatco’s audited annual financial statements for the financial year ended 31 January 2026, recently released, reflect a year in which the entity navigated one of the most challenging operating environments in recent history.

Following successive years of drought and the continued rebuilding of Namibia’s national cattle herd, livestock available for slaughter declined significantly across the country, directly affecting throughput and revenue throughout the red meat value chain.

South of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, cattle throughput declined by 53%, from 75 268 cattle in the previous financial year to 35 594 cattle during the reporting period.

Consequently, Group revenue declined from N$1.865 billion to N$1.108 billion. While these figures reflect the difficult operating environment, they represent only one part of the corporation’s performance story.

Resilience