According to local media reports, both the Francistown and Lobatse Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) abattoirs failed to open as scheduled on January 9. The abattoirs, which have continuously underperformed due to a lack of cattle, recently agreed to increase the buying price for cattle by 40% in an attempt to attract more farmers to sell cattle. It appears, however, that this move has been unsuccessful as the abattoirs did not receive the minimum number required to justify operating thefacilities.

According to BMC, the company had expected at least 400 cattle, but added that heavy rain may have prevented farmers from taking their cattle to the abattoirs.