As a possible solution to relieve the pressure on livestock farmers to obtain quality genetics from South Africa, a US delegation this week punted the idea to secure high-quality breeding stock from alternative sources. Given the current status quo where movement of live animals from South Africa to Namibia is severely restricted because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia in partnership with the Namibian Stud Breeders Association this week hosted a multiday roadshow with representatives of the USLGE and USDA-FAS.

The visit connected U.S. industry experts to Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform officials, as well as local breeders and agricultural stakeholders to discuss expanded trade and technical cooperation and how it will assist local breeders to obtain quality genetic material. The U.S. delegation led by USDA-FAS Agricultural Minister-Counselor Oliver Flake met livestock board and local stud breeders to gain insight into the depth and quality of local industry. The visit concluded with an industry discussion in Windhoek, where Namibian breeders and U.S. representatives identified practical opportunities for importing and exporting breeding animals and reproductive material.

The delegation’s visit to Namibia is part of a broader regional tour with stops in Zambia and Zimbabwe to deepen agricultural trade partnerships and promote scientific cooperation across the region.

Source: Mandisa Rasmeni, Namibian Economist, Agriculture, August 7, 2026

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 urgency of diversifying access to superior breeding animals and reproductive material to strengthen the resilience of Namibia’s livestock sector.

In response, the Livestock and Livestock Products Board of Namibia (LLPBN), in partnership with the Namibian Stud Breeders Association (NSBA), this week hosted a multiday roadshow with representatives of USLGE and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS). The visit brought U.S. industry representatives together with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform officials, Namibian breeders and agricultural stakeholders to discuss how expanded trade and technical cooperation could help address the country’s breeding stock needs.

Over the course of the visit, the delegation, led by USDA-FAS Agricultural Minister-Counselor 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 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 U.S. representatives identified practical opportunities for importing and exporting 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 U.S. 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.

Source: U.S. Embassy Windhoek, News, August 7, 2026