By Lloyd Phillips
It is not only South Africa’s production and supplies of meat from cloven-hoofed animals that are increasingly under threat from spreading foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but the country’s similarly important supplies of milk and other dairy products as well.
South Africa’s out of control spread of FMD has already begun disrupting some of the country’s key milk production areas, milk collection routes, and supplies to and output from milk processors.
This is according to David De Jager who is chief executive officer of Tip-Top Milk, one of South Africa’s largest raw milk logistics suppliers.
He adds: “When dairy farms are quarantined inside FMD management areas, animals can’t be moved. This affects breeding cycles, which could lead to overstocking and spikes in production costs.”
A statement by Tip-Top Milk explains the milk from dairy farms located within foot-and-mouth disease management areas, may only be transported out of these areas with the prior permission of a local state veterinarian. This too is only on condition that this milk be transported directly to an authorised milk processing facility where it must be pasteurised twice, instead of the normal once, before it is allowed for further distribution.
State and private sector animal health experts have pointed out that although unprocessed products, like unpasteurised milk, from animals infected with foot-and-mouth pose no health threats to people, these products could potentially spread this disease to susceptible animals in other areas.
De Jager says this double pasteurising “slashes” a plant’s milk processing capacity, increases its compliance costs and “stretches production to the limit”.
Tip-Top Milk’s statement says: “The primary dairy value chain relies on precision, predictability and mobility. From farm milk storage tanks to processing plants. Without free movement, processing slows, retail commitments falter, rural economies suffer and the milk price fluctuates.”
De Jager has added his voice to widespread criticisms of how the state has allegedly failed to effectively control FMD to date, and which reportedly contributed to the recent shocking discovery of this disease in Karan Beef’s massive Heidelberg feedlot.
“South Africa’s dairy industry is a cornerstone of national food security. This is under threat without strengthened collaborative intervention measures,” Tip-Top Milk’s statement continues.
‘International markets are watching us’
Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) has reiterated its recent call for the state to officially declare this province’s long-time and expansive foot-and-mouth problem – the largest by far among the four of South Africa’s province’s that currently have open cases of this disease – a disaster.
Kwanalu, representatives of various livestock industry organisations, and now Tip-Top Milk, collectively believe the substantial state resources that would be unlocked by such a disaster declaration, are urgently and desperately needed to bring FMD under control in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The world is watching how South Africa responds to these outbreaks. Trade partners need to see a clear, coordinated plan that reassures them we have this under control. The economic fallout is already evident,” says Sandy La Marque, Kwanalu’s chief executive officer.
Angus Williamson, Kwanalu’s vice-president and chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Red Meat Producers’ Organisation, explains: “International markets are noticing and some are rejecting our exports of some animal products. This is no longer a local or provincial problem. It’s a national risk.”
African Farming has previously reported that China, which is the largest importer of South African red meat by volume, recently suspended these imports because of the ongoing spread of foot-and-mouth in South Africa.
De Jager says that, also due to this spread, several international markets have suspended their imports of South African dairy products.
Williamson continues: “If South Africa’s reputation as a reliable export partner continues to decline, the damage will be long-lasting and incredibly difficult to recover from. A strong, coordinated response now is vital to preserve livelihoods and to rebuild market confidence”.
More to read:
China suspends SA meat imports due to FMD
Biosecurity measures: You cannot be careful enough
EXCLUSIVE: Steenhuisen addresses US trade talks, FMD protocol violations and plant disease control
