By Lebogang Mashala
The state veterinary services in South Africa are in disarray and smallholder farmers will continue to suffer losses if action is not taken. This sentiment was expressed by black commercial and smallholder farmers following the recent suspension of weekly auctions due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in certain areas of the North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. This precautionary measure aims to curb the spread of the disease.
Duncan Serapelwane of Moalosi Bonsmara held his third production auction this week and shared his frustrations regarding the state veterinary division in his area of Vryburg. Serapelwane, one of the few black farmers who host private production sales, reported difficulties in obtaining assistance from the state veterinarian to clear his animals for sale. He stated, “I’m not entirely sure if the veterinary services in the provinces have the necessary human resources to deliver services to farmers. One cannot determine if they are competent enough to handle the situation.
“I struggled to get the state veterinarian to come to my farm for an inspection of the cattle before my auction a few days ago. There is a lack of will and capacity within that division, which is not the only one experiencing poor service in the department,” he emphasised.
Serapelwane pointed out that the country’s state veterinary services are in disarray and this situation cannot persist if the nation is serious about supporting the agricultural industry. He noted that farmers are often blamed for issues that are beyond their control.
“These individuals are always reactive but never proactive. They don’t even know where the farms are, and I cannot recall the last time a state veterinarian visited my farm. I think there is a lack of work ethic in the public sector, which is very disappointing,” Serapelwane added.
Bush Masiu, a stud and commercial cattle breeder in Senekal, Free State, expressed that the closure of weekly auctions is directly affecting their income. “As much as we love farming, profitability is at the centre of what we do,” Masiu stated.
He noted that auctions in his area have been cancelled, affecting his plans to sell approximately ten weaners, particularly those at the preferred weight for feedlots (180kg-200kg). “Depending on how long this situation lasts, I may miss out on good prices, as the weaners may gain more weight and exceed 220kg, which could lead to a lower price per kilogram,” Masiu explained.
Masiu is also participating in the Sernick Tier 3 programme, where he is currently repaying through weaners. However, they are unable to collect these weaners due to disease restrictions. “If this situation continues for a long time, I might be penalised as the weaners grow larger,” he added.
He highlighted that veterinary services in the Free State are understaffed and cannot adequately serve all farmers. “The vet assigned to our area is stationed in Ladybrand, which is over an hour’s drive away. Additionally, they rarely visit the farms,” Masiu said.
Many smallholder farmers struggle to afford private veterinarians, who charge a call-out fee based on distance and additional costs for the actual work. “You can imagine the limited options available for those in commonages,” he remarked.
Masiu described this as a significant challenge, particularly as it coincides with the weaning period for many farmers. “With the market closed, we have too many animals to care for, and we will have to spend extra money to provide supplements for them,” he explained.
“We urge the state to intervene quickly and resolve this issue; otherwise, we will suffer. The closure of markets is catastrophic for farmers, especially for smallholder or communal farmers, who rely heavily on weekly auctions.”
