This paper presents the current status of goat production and marketing in Namibia and its challenges and opportunities. Livestock data and reports from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Meat Board of Namibia and Namibia Statistics Agency were analysed to establish the current status in goat production and marketing. Namibia has 1.9 million goats of which 54% of the total number is found in the northern communal areas. In the commercial farming sector, Boer goat is the main established breed for meat production, while in northern communal areas, the local indigenous goats are common. Goats are reared under an extensive production system and fully dependent on rangelands. Marketing of goats in the formal market is regulated by the board of the red meat industry, whereas there is no regulated marketing in the informal market. The main purpose of goats farming in communal areas is rather for home consumption; thus, trading becomes secondary when a need for emergency income arises. In the commercial sector, goats are mainly marketed on hoof to the lucrative South African market. The major challenges for goat production are recurrent drought, diseases and parasites, predators and theft and poor management. Organized marketing in communal areas and lack of marketing infrastructure are impeded by small flock sizes that limit the numbers that can be marketed. Consumers’ health consciousness provides an opportunity to increase goat production through increased demand for goat meat and milk. Market incentives such as attractive prices, market infrastructure, value addition and support policies for local farmers are imperative to improve goat production and marketing.

本文介绍了纳米比亚山羊生产和销售的现状及其挑战和机遇。分析了纳米比亚肉类管理局兽医服务局和纳米比亚统计局的牲畜数据和报告，以确定山羊生产和销售的当前状况。纳米比亚拥有190万只山羊，其中54％的山羊是在北部公共区域发现的。在商业化农业部门中，波尔山羊是主要的肉类生产品种，而在北部公共区域，当地土著山羊很常见。山羊在广泛的生产系统下饲养，完全依赖牧场。正式市场上的山羊市场营销由红肉行业委员会监管，而非正式市场上没有规范的市场营销。在公共区域山羊养殖的主要目的是供家庭消费。因此，当需要紧急收入时，交易就成为次要的。在商业领域，山羊主要是靠马蹄销售到利润丰厚的南非市场。山羊生产的主要挑战是反复干旱，疾病和寄生虫，天敌和盗窃以及管理不善。小规模的羊群限制了可销售数量，从而阻碍了公共区域的有组织营销和缺乏营销基础设施。消费者的健康意识为通过增加对山羊肉和牛奶的需求提供了增加山羊产量的机会。诱人的价格，市场基础设施，增值和对当地农民的支持政策等市场激励措施对于改善山羊的生产和销售势在必行。