Abstract
Introduction: expansion of the Namibian beef export market presents benefits for both the National economy and small-scale farming communities. However, meeting animal health and productivity requirements whilst securing veterinary public health are identified as key challenges to the sector. Farmer access to veterinary services, animal health advice and veterinary medicines is scarce due to the geographical expanse, and on-going risks from endemic and emergent zoonotic diseases.
Highlights
Namibia is a vast country, sharing borders with Angola, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa
Recent advances in the Namibian beef export market [8] grants benefits for the smallscale farming community, but meeting animal health and productivity requirements, whilst securing veterinary public health are identified as key challenges to the sector [7]
The finding that the Namibian rural livestock farming communities are generally poorly served with regard to comprehensive and quality animal health services echoes the situation in comparable developing African nations such as Kenya [28], Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe [42], and South Africa [43]
Summary
Namibia is a vast country, sharing borders with Angola, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. Livestock production is often cited as the backbone of the Namibian economy, with approximately 70% of the population dependent on farm animal production [5,6]. Irrespective of the sector importance to the national economy, three decades of a declining GDP contribution from the Namibian agricultural sector has intensified pressure on farm animal production [7]. Recent advances in the Namibian beef export market [8] grants benefits for the smallscale farming community, but meeting animal health and productivity requirements, whilst securing veterinary public health are identified as key challenges to the sector [7]. Urbanisation, and the fast growing demand for dairy and meat in city regions of resource limited countries has instigated intensification of livestock production systems [10] in areas which may not yet be suitably equipped
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
