Brucellosis remains one of the most underestimated yet widespread diseases in local livestock herds, and poses a threat not only to animal health but also to people.
By Jasper Raats, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
During a panel discussion on animal health at the recent AgriHX expo in Polokwane, Limpopo, experts warned that brucellosis is currently present in many herds, mainly because testing and control efforts have weakened over the years.
Brucellosis is more common in cattle herds than many people realise, especially as testing is no longer conducted as consistently as in the past, according to Dr Duncan Green, a veterinarian at Green Partnership. He noted that a previously well-functioning system in which the state supported testing and control has largely fallen away.
Green explained that under this earlier system, the state compensated private veterinarians to test herds for brucellosis, which proved highly effective. Veterinarians could proactively approach farmers and offer free testing, on condition that infected animals were culled. The state would then take over further control measures until the herd was disease-free. The system helped to monitor and limit brucellosis effectively, but the withdrawal of this support led to a decline in testing and a renewed spread of the disease.
“If you don’t test, you won’t know,” added Dario Cremona of the Pietersburg Veterinary Clinic. He pointed out that farmers are not obliged to test their animals, making disease control more difficult.
In addition to its economic impact, brucellosis poses serious health risks to people. Green emphasised that the disease could make people “very, very ill”, underscoring its importance as a zoonotic disease.
Also read: Ask the vet: Brucellosis – what you should know
Fertility Declines
The panel also addressed the broader challenge of fertility in cattle. Although exact figures are debated, there are indications that calving percentages in some areas are significantly lower than they should be, with disease playing a major role.
Brucellosis is not the only cause of poor fertility, Cremona explained. Diseases such as trichomoniasis and vibriosis are widespread, particularly in communal and mixed herds, and can lead to infertility and low pregnancy rates. These diseases are often only detected when cows fail to conceive or when calving percentages decline.
The result is an often “invisible” problem that causes significant economic losses over time. Fewer calves mean reduced income, while input costs remain constant or increase.
The solution is straightforward, the expert said, but it requires discipline. Regular testing, strict biosecurity and close cooperation with veterinarians are essential. Farmers must also ensure they use reliable breeding material and avoid introducing untested animals into their herds.
The panel members agreed that many of the biggest health challenges in the industry are not new diseases, but the re-emergence of old ones due to weakened control and management practices.
By returning to basic principles such as testing, vaccination and structured herd health programmes, farmers can bring many of these risks back under control.
Also read:
Kroonstad vet lab get accreditation for bovine brucellosis testing
