Tanzania-Cattle markets.

Meat prices have ranged from Sh3,800 and Sh4,000 a kilo in Dar es Salaam in the last five weeks.

The daily average livestock supply increased by 14.7 per cent last month compared with that of the previous month as herders sold more animals amid the scarcity of pastures at a time when some parts of the country are facing food shortages due to poor rainfall, necessitating herdsmen to have have money to buy cereals.

A monthly report by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing showed that 891 animals on the average were supplied daily last April from 777 the previous month.

It showed that 19,619 head of cattle were supplied at the Pugu cattle market from upcountry in April this year against 24,754 supplied the preceding month.

Dodoma, Shinyanga and Tabora regions accounted for 65.54 per cent of the cattle delivered to the market. The market also received 12,689 goats and 2,013 sheep last month compared with 10,514 goats and 1,998 sheep the previous month.

The report showed 555 cattle on the average were supplied daily to that market in April this year compared with 570 a month earlier.

The average price of a mature grade two cow was Sh349,000 last month compared with Sh345,000 the previous month while that of a grade three was Sh210,167 — lower than Sh214,500 registered the previous month.

A mature grade two bull was sold for Sh505,667, lower than Sh520,000 the preceding month while a grade three animal sold at a slightly lower Sh381,000 from Sh405,000 earlier. Supplies of goats increased to an average of 258 a day last month from 142 the previous month.

A grade two she-goat was traded at an average of Sh48,360 last month from Sh54,250 the previous month. A grade three she-goat was sold for Sh29,240 compared with Sh33,300 earlier.

A grade two he-goat was traded at an average of Sh55,480 last month from Sh63,400 a month earlier, whereas a grade three one was sold for Sh32,440 from Sh36,200 the previous month.

Sheep supplies also climbed to an average of 78 animals a day last month from 65 the previous month.

The average price of a grade two ewe was Sh42,920 last month compared with Sh50,100 the previous month while a grade three animal was sold at Sh28,200 from Sh31,400 previously. A grade two ram was sold for an average of Sh47,840 last month from Sh55,000 the preceding month.

A grade three ram was sold for Sh30,440 from Sh34,600 earlier.