By Marieke Snyman, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) may appear manageable from a distance, but its true impact is felt when it disrupts farms, markets and livelihoods. Speaking at the African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 in Pretoria, Louw van Reenen, executive chairperson of the Beefmaster Group, delivered a detailed and data-driven message on the scale of the crisis – and what it will take for the red meat industry to respond effectively. His address made it clear that while FMD is a global challenge, South Africa’s ability to manage it will determine the sector’s future.
By Marieke Snyman, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Van Reenen emphasised that FMD is not confined to Africa. Large parts of the world, particularly Asia, face even greater challenges. Yet many of these regions continue to produce and export successfully through structured control measures. “FMD is not an African problem; it’s a worldwide problem,” he said, stressing that proven solutions already exist.
A costly disease that cripples the value chain
Although FMD rarely kills animals, its economic consequences are severe. Van Reenen described it as “an economical disease” that can shut down the entire beef value chain.
When an outbreak occurs, operations are placed under quarantine, halting slaughter for at least two months. Production may only resume up to five months after the last detected case. During this period, product is destroyed, export markets are lost and penalties are applied to downgraded meat.
The financial impact is substantial. Losses are estimated at between R5 000 and R7 000 per animal. In a feedlot of 40 000 cattle, this can amount to around R240 million. “That’s the reason why most feedlots stop buying,” he explained, illustrating how the effects quickly reach producers upstream.
Weak points: reporting, biosecurity and traceability
Van Reenen identified underreporting as a major concern. Farmers often recognise early warning signs but fail to report them, allowing the disease to spread further.
“We know when something is wrong, but we don’t want to tell the government about it,” he said.
He also pointed to the need for stricter and more consistent biosecurity measures. While standards have improved in some areas, gaps remain across the country.
Traceability systems are another critical requirement. Without accurate tracking of animal movement, outbreaks cannot be effectively contained, and export requirements cannot be met. Tools such as real-time mapping systems are already being introduced, but wider implementation is needed.
In addition, laboratory capacity must be expanded to ensure faster testing, while local vaccine development offers encouraging progress for future control efforts.
A global market within reach
A key theme of Van Reenen’s address was the price gap between South Africa and international markets. Locally, beef averages about R50/kg, compared with roughly R60/kg in Hong Kong, R110/kg in the Middle East, R120/kg in China and up to R350/kg in Europe.
With full market access, South Africa could achieve an average carcass price of around R96/kg – almost double current levels. This would significantly improve returns across the value chain.
“We can get there, but then we have to have access to all those markets,” he said.
At present, exports are largely limited to markets such as Jordan, Kuwait and the UAE. While valuable, these are not the highest-paying destinations. Access to markets like China has already been lost due to FMD-related restrictions.
Vaccination and movement control as cornerstones
Van Reenen stressed that large-scale vaccination is essential. Countries in South America have demonstrated that comprehensive vaccination programmes can maintain export access despite the presence of FMD.
“We have to vaccinate the whole country … they’ve shown us how to do it,” he said.
This must be supported by strict movement control and clearly defined buffer zones. Effective traceability underpins both measures, as export markets require proof of origin and disease status.
Growth depends on exports
South Africa’s red meat industry has experienced limited growth in slaughter volumes over the past decade, while exports have increased by only about 6%. Each FMD outbreak leads to a sharp drop in exports and a corresponding decline in prices.
At the same time, input costs have risen by around 11%, while carcass prices have increased by only about 5,2% annually. Export markets – particularly higher-value chilled cuts – have helped offset some of this pressure.
Globally, South Africa remains a low-cost producer. Local calf prices are just above $2.20/kg, compared with around $3/kg in Australia and up to $8/kg in the United States. This gap is largely due to limited access to premium markets.
A shared responsibility
Van Reenen concluded that addressing FMD will require coordinated action across the entire value chain. Improved reporting, stricter biosecurity, expanded vaccination and functional traceability systems are all essential.
The potential rewards are clear: improved market access, higher prices, job creation and a more resilient industry. Without these interventions, however, growth will remain constrained.
The challenge, he suggested, lies not in understanding the problem but in implementing the solutions.
African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026
The African Farming Agri-Development Imbizo 2026 is taking place on 26 and 27 March at Time Square Hotel in Pretoria. This two-day event will bring together more than 200 farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, policymakers, financiers and industry leaders. The goal is clear: To align resources, unlock opportunities and strengthen partnerships that will accelerate the growth of South Africa’s new generation of commercial farmers.
Hosted by African Farming, the Imbizo builds on a strong commitment to advancing black commercial agriculture through information-sharing, networking and development-driven platforms.
Powered by: AFGRI | Ford | Standard Bank – South Africa | RMIS – Red Meat Industry Services | Afrivet | Shell | Vaal University of Technology | Pannar Seed
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