The organic livestock sector in Namibia is still in its nascent stages: thus far, only two cattle farms and no small stock farms are certified by the Namibian Organic Association (NOA). Natural circumstances favour extensive livestock farming on the basis of free range grazing on indigenous pasture. The majority of the agricultural land in the semi-arid country receives an average yearly rainfall of 150-500 mm supporting only marginal savannahs. An area of 8-30 hectares is needed to supply year-round fodder for one large livestock unit (equivalent to a mature cow). Even when conventionally managed, these free range conditions naturally allow animal husbandry that is closer to organic ideals than most European farming systems ever achieve.
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