13 November 2023
By: Johan Norval
Exporters will soon be able to send local small livestock embryos to Russia despite foot-and-mouth disease hanging over South Africa’s animal health status.
Dr Mpho Maja, director of animal health at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, approved an export protocol in October that was developed in collaboration with the small livestock industry.
The World Organisation for Animal Health considers embryos a safe commodity with a small chance of spreading disease. Donor parents are also screened for diseases.
A committee of the National Animal Health Forum, made up of Dr Pierre van Rooyen from Brandfort, Dr Fanie Steyn (Ramsem), Dewald Olivier (Red Meat Industry Service), and Marzanne Roets (National Animal Health Forum), worked with Dr Caroline Gibbs (Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development), Dr Adrian Todd and Dr John Grewar (specialists in veterinary epidemiology) to meet the health conditions set by Russia.
Attie Westraad, also a committee member and chairperson of the South African Federation of Small Stock Breeders Societies, says the development of export protocols for Kazakhstan, Armenia and Brazil is well under way.
“These developments were only possible because the department accepted the assistance of the small livestock industry,” he says.
“South African breeding material, especially Dorpers, Boerbokke, Dormers, Dohne-Merinos and Meatmasters, is highly sought after abroad. Our farmers’ expertise in breeding superior animals is widely known.”
The Dorper Sheep Breeders’ Society was in the news years ago regarding the possible export of live sheep to Russia. The project failed, however, partly due to the outbreak of bird flu in Russia and local foot-and-mouth disease.
“Members of the society are excited about the export of small livestock embryos, which can mean a significant boost to a struggling economy,” says Westraad.
