29 January 2024
With only one case of foot-and-mouth disease reported last year, it seems the spread has been halted. But the smallest mistake can undo everything.
The key message from the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (Ruvasa) in its December report on livestock diseases is that biosecurity measures must be strictly adhered to.
Dr Faffa Malan, Ruvasa managing director, says that with only one case of the disease reported – in October in a communal area in KwaZulu-Natal – it is vital that the entire supply chain, including farmers, buyers, transporters, auction yards, feedlot processors and the media, ensures that biosecurity measures are meticulously applied.
“The transport of only one or a few infected animals from an area where the disease is still being managed or from a protected area can put South Africa back in the situation where the crisis began if the disease is transmitted to other animals,” he said.
“One mistake in an area can lead to enormous financial losses for farmers there and undo all positive developments in the meat industry.”
The Directorate for Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said in its latest report on the disease this month that 165 outbreaks have not been closed, but 131 of them are at dip tanks and small-scale farms in KZN’s communal areas.
In the Free State, there are still 24 cases, with seven in North West and three in Gauteng. Animals are being tested for further exposure before the cases can be closed.
A total of 634 000 animals have been vaccinated against the disease since March 2022 and more than 200 000 have been slaughtered under controlled conditions. No cases have occurred in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape or Northern Cape.
Brucellosis
Malan says the big question now is why it is not possible to combat other diseases, such as brucellosis (contagious miscarriage), with the same zeal. “Diseases know no borders, and therefore neighbours and farmers in each area must work closely together to prevent diseases for their own benefit.”
He says brucellosis remains a significant problem. According to the latest report, it is present in six provinces: Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, Free State, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. He emphasises that if one animal tests positive for brucellosis, it is assumed the entire herd is infected. The state veterinarian must then intervene and take responsibility for eradicating the disease on a farm.
“If farmers ensure that their animals are vaccinated against it, as the law requires, the incidence of the disease can decrease dramatically. Many farmers shrug and say, ‘it will only cost me money if my animals test positive, and my farm will be placed under quarantine’.”
Animal diseases reported in December in all nine provinces include lice, ticks, abscesses, eye infections and calving problems (dystocia). Diseases reported in eight provinces include roundworm, tapeworm, coccidiosis, ear ticks, anaplasmosis, redwater, lumpy jaw, mange and diarrhoea.
Malan says farmers should study the spread of diseases and determine risks with their veterinarians. Warm, humid weather has increased ticks and insects that transmit diseases, resulting in an increase in diseases such as African and Asian redwater and heartwater transmitted by ticks.
Some of the insect-transmitted diseases widely reported include lumpy skin disease, three-day stiff sickness and blue tongue, for which a new vaccine has been registered and is available.
Veld fires in many parts of South Africa have caused significant damage, and apart from animals that were killed or had to be put down due to burns, some farmers are struggling with grazing for their animals and enough supplementary protein and energy sources.
