Namibian livestock producers face mounting pressure to secure high-quality breeding stock, as ongoing regional livestock
disease outbreaks continue to disrupt the country’s traditional supply.
For stud breeders and commercial producers alike, the disruption has underscored the need to diversify access to superior breeding animals and
reproductive material to strengthen Namibia’s livestock sector.
In response, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), in partnership with the Namibian Stud Breeders Association (NSBA), recently hosted a multi-day roadshow with US representatives. Livestock Genetics Export organization (USLGE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS).
The visit brought US industry representatives together with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, Namibian breeders, and agricultural stakeholders to discuss how expanded trade and technical cooperation could help address the country’s breeding stock needs.
At the livestock industry discussion, Doug Edge of USLGE discussed practical opportunities to import and export breeding animals and reproductive material to improve herd quality and strengthen livestock resilience.
During the visit, the delegation, led by USDA/FAS Minister Counsellor of Agricultural Affairs Oliver Flake, met with LLPBN and NSBA leadership to better understand the structure and priorities of Namibia’s stud breeding industry.
The group toured leading breeding operations around Windhoek, including a Wagyu ranch and a private stockbreeding operation and visited Unam’s Neudamm Agricultural College to see firsthand how Namibian breeders manage herd quality and disease resilience.
The roadshow concluded with an industry discussion in Windhoek, where Namibian breeders and US representatives identified practical opportunities to import and export breeding animals and reproductive material.
LLPBN has identified the United States as a key alternative source of quality breeding stock for Namibian producers navigating current regional disease pressures.
Looking ahead, both sides expressed interest in building on this visit through continued technical exchange, including joint training, shared best practices in herd health and breed improvement, and closer coordination between Namibian and US animal husbandry experts.
Rather than a one-time engagement, the visit is the start of a long-term partnership that strengthens Namibia’s ability to safeguard and grow its livestock industry on its own terms.
The delegation’s visit to Namibia is part of a broader regional tour, with additional stops in Zambia and Zimbabwe, deepening agricultural trade partnerships and promoting scientific cooperation across the region. -newsroom@nepc.com.na
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