FMD is not going away

Foot-and-mouth disease is costing the South African livestock industry billions of rands. Unfortunately, the disease will endure, and a national traceability system is the only solution to the problem.

- Janine Ryan

Following the confirmation of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in North West earlier in 2022, China banned the import of South African wool.

FAST FACTS

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic to South Africa, and has led to the loss of billions of rand for the red meat industry.

FMD has a low mortality rate, but the morbidity rate approaches 100%.

South Africa urgently needs to implement a national livestock traceability system to control the spread of diseases like FMD.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been a talking point in South Africa for the past few years, particularly after the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) suspended the country's FMD-free status due to a 2019 outbreak in Limpopo. The Beefmaster Group estimates that this outbreak cost the livestock industry around R8 billion.

Since then, FMD has spread across several South African provinces, and has resulted in China, the biggest importer of wool and mohair products from South Africa, banning the imports of the by-products of cloven-hoofed animals. This has had a dire impact on South Africa's wool and mohair sector, as evidenced by the dismal clearance at recent sales.

In a herd infected with FMD, the death of adult animals is rare; however, production will drop due to spontaneous abortions and a decline in milk production in cows, as well as fertility issues in both bulls and female animals.

FMD can infect all cloven-hoofed animals. According to the OIE, it is estimated that the disease circulates in 77% of the livestock population in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

A RISING ISSUE

South African farmers produce high-quality red meat at relatively affordable prices when compared with the prices of red meat in other parts of the world.