One of South Africa’s leading beef cattle and wool sheep farmers, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to African Farming after five weeks of first-hand experience with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in his herd, sharing his practical observations and lessons learnt. He emphasised that these were based solely on his personal experience, but hoped they may help other farmers to be better prepared.

By Jasper Raats, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

The farmer says good-quality, soft grazing and easy access to clean, fresh drinking water were among the most important factors that supported recovery from FMD. Camps also had to be carefully selected – not too steep, but also not marshy or low-lying areas.

Just as important, he says, was avoiding handling and unnecessary stress. “Herds that were moved or treated showed the greatest losses by far.”

He warns that general treatments do not stop the disease, but that administering Virbac Multimin – a product used to prevent and treat deficiencies of zinc, manganese, selenium and copper in cattle – as well as vitamin A beforehand can help improve animals’ overall resistance.

According to his observations, direct contact between animals spreads the disease very quickly, and contaminated grazing can still pose a risk even a week later.

In the case of cattle, his cows recovered within about 14 days, but calves often only began showing symptoms another two weeks later.

Sheep, he says, were only mildly affected, but they can spread the virus rapidly to cattle.

A major risk is secondary diseases such as the tick-borne disease redwater, lumpy skin disease, and bovine ephemeral fever, commonly known as three-day stiff sickness, which can break out shortly after FMD and cause further losses. “It is critically important that vaccinations against these diseases are done before FMD strikes,” he says.

“Maintaining biosecurity within an infected herd is extremely difficult,” he says.

Also read: FMD | Vaccine still on its way – ‘Keep your farm gates closed!’

Cows and Calves Hardest Hit

Young, non-producing animals in good condition on his farm generally coped well with the disease, whereas cows with calves were the hardest hit – especially large-frame cows in poor condition.

In terms of losses, mortalities among weaners up to just before calving remained within normal limits. Deaths among lactating cows and calves were about 0,5% and 1%, respectively, mostly due to secondary redwater. Permanent damage, such as animals remaining permanently lame, occurred in about 1% to 2% of his cattle. Mortalities were mainly among large-frame cows and over-muscled animals with poor body condition.

He points out that weak calves were not necessarily only young calves. Adapted veld cattle coped notably well with the disease, sometimes showing very few external signs. “You only see mouth blisters, three days of stiffness and drooling, followed by severe weight loss – but they recover fairly quickly.”

The true extent of the losses will only become clear after pregnancy testing. At present, it appears that cows are skipping an entire cycle. The logical advice would therefore be to extend the breeding season by 21 days.

As far as bulls are concerned, semen from a sick animal should be regarded as non-viable for at least six weeks, although some bulls are only very mildly affected.

Also read: Design Biologix appointed exclusive agent for Biogénesis Bagó FMD vaccine in SA

Only These Calves Can Become Carriers

From discussions with an animal disease expert, the farmer learnt that it was unlikely for cattle to become permanent carriers of the virus. Only unborn calves at a specific stage of pregnancy may possibly be born as carriers, similar to what occurs in buffalo.

Natural immunity should be stronger than vaccine-induced immunity, experts say, and where secondary outbreaks occur, these are likely among animals that did not contract the disease the first time, or whose resistance was too weak.

“If I have to sum it all up,” the farmer says, “I truly believe that ‘less is more’. This is only my personal experience – it can change from day to day – and it is shared simply to help. Farmers are welcome to ignore it if they disagree.”

In closing, he made a heartfelt appeal that dairy farmers be kept in people’s thoughts and prayers, as they are currently under immense pressure.