By Lloyd Phillips
Towards end May, Brazil will petition the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to be globally recognised as being foot-and-mouth disease free without vaccination. If this petition is approved, Brazil hopes to start exporting its cattle genetics for the benefit of South Africa’s own beef and dairy value chains.
Brazil’s decades-long, determined and impressively unified public-private fight against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is finally reaching its end goals. In May 2024 its Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock declared the country FMD-free without vaccination. However, the cherry on the cake will be achieving this same recognition from the WOAH that, in turn, will be recognised by all other countries around the world, including South Africa.
Various sources African Farming spoke to at Brazil’s recent prestigious ExpoZebu 2025 cattle exhibition in that country’s Uberaba district expressed cautious excitement at hopefully receiving the WOAH’s official confirmation soon. A Brazilian delegation will travel to WOAH’s headquarters in Paris, France, later this month to present scientific evidence for Brazil being declared FMD-free without vaccination.
One of the delegation will be Dr Izabelle Jardim who is a regulatory affairs consultant with the public-private Brazilian Cattle International Project that promotes and facilitates exports of Brazilian cattle genetics.
She told African Farming Brazil introduced a nationwide mandatory vaccination programme in 1992 against FMD for the country’s over 230 million cattle, and also for its untold numbers of other FMD-susceptible livestock. Through massive support throughout the country’s livestock value chain, Brazil had its last known FMD infection in 2006.
Despite this, Brazil remained cautious and continued to require mandatory livestock vaccinations against FMD until 2023. 2024 was the first full year without such vaccinations, and still no new cases of FMD have been confirmed in that country to date. This is why Brazil now feels sufficiently confident to declare itself FMD-free without vaccination and to seek the same recognition from the WOAH.
New bilateral opportunities between Brazil and South Africa
“While our status as FMD-free with vaccination allowed us to export beef to many markets, some high-value markets like Japan, South Korea and certain European countries impose restrictions on beef from countries that vaccinate against FMD. By achieving FMD-free without vaccination status, we can access these premium markets and receive better prices for our exports,” said Jardim.
“South Africa faces its own challenges with FMD, with periodic outbreaks affecting its own export potential. Brazil’s experience demonstrates eradication is possible with sustained commitment and resources. There could be opportunities for knowledge sharing between our countries.”
To protect its own livestock sector against potentially importing Brazil’s O, A and C strains of FMD, South Africa has long had highly restrictive protections against imports of livestock genetics from Brazil. However, Brazil hopes South Africa will reconsider these protections when the WOAH recognises Brazil as FMD-free without vaccination.
South Africa has the SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3 strains of FMD.
Jardim and various others that African Farming spoke to at ExpoZebu 2025, strongly believe genetics of Brazil’s seven pure and three composite Zebu cattle breeds could help further improve the production efficiencies of South African cattle and the quality of the products thereof. This is especially applicable given that Brazil has similar production conditions to South Africa.
For example, the Nelore beef breed that comprises 80% of Brazil’s cattle herd is known for its heat and parasite resistance, hardiness and adaptability to poor forage. The similarly adaptable Gir is a dual-purpose breed used for both milk and meat production. Brazil is using the Gir extensively in crossbreeding programmes, including with Holstein dairy cattle to produce the tough but still highly productive Girolando breed.
“I believe crossbreeding Zebu cattle with European breeds already in South Africa would create excellent results, bringing together the best traits from both lineages. The meat quality and carcass characteristics of these crosses are excellent. This is one of the most interesting aspects – the superior quality of the final product,” said Jardim.
“Each breed has its own particular strengths and characteristics that suit different farming needs. Brazilian cattle genetics could help South Africa improve production for both domestic consumption and export markets.”
African Farming attended ExpoZebu 2025 as a fully sponsored guest of the public-private Brazilian Cattle International Project.
Keep an eye on African Farming for various video interviews from ExpoZebu 2025.
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