No sooner do Botswana’s animal health authorities think they have confined one outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within the country’s borders than more new outbreaks rear their heads elsewhere.
By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
The confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at the beginning of April among cattle at Botswana’s Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination Laboratory and Training Centre (NAIL) in the Goodhope district has understandably caused significant concern in that country. Not only are the elite cattle genetics at Ramatlabama NAIL reportedly worth in the region of at least R250 million, but the large disease control zone 11, within which this now FMD-infected farm lies, was previously internationally recognised as FMD-free without vaccination.
As previously reported by African Farming, Botswana has experienced several FMD outbreaks since the beginning of this year. They originally began among communal cattle at five locations in the far east along the border with Zimbabwe. Botswana’s animal health authorities immediately implemented strict controls on the movements of livestock and their products, investigations nationwide to assess any possible further spread of this disease, and an FMD vaccination campaign for cattle in zones 6b and 3c, and along a buffer zone with the adjoining, but not infected, zone 6a in the west.
Also read: FMD | Botswana announces new outbreak among ‘elite’ cattle, this time close to SA
African Farming has also reported that whereas the FMD outbreak at Ramatlabama NAIL is about 500km away from zones 6b and 3c, this facility is only about 5km across the border from the nearest FMD outbreak in South Africa’s Ramatlabama district of North West’s Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. At that point, the border between South Africa and Botswana is said to only comprise a fence whose condition is unknown to African Farming.
FMD Now at 10 Locations This Year So Far
On 10 April, Botswana’s Ministry of Lands and Agriculture (MoLA) issued a statement to announce that FMD has now been confirmed in the communal cattle crush areas of that country’s neighbouring Papatlo and Matasalalo villages approximately 12km to 15km west of Ramatlabama NAIL.
The very next day, MoLA issued a further statement announcing that FMD was also now confirmed at two more locations, namely the SW Bruwer and Sons feedlot at Primefast near Hildavale and at the Ramatlabama village crush. The feedlot is about 27km north of Ramatlabama NAIL and the Ramatlabama village crush is about 3km south-east of Ramatlabama NAIL and on the border with South Africa.
Also read: Communal farmers have their say as FMD vaccination drive reaches SA-Botswana border
Since the confirmation of FMD at Ramatlabama NAIL, the Botswanan government has reintroduced a ban on the export of all products from cloven-hoofed animals. This is a severe economic blow to the country’s meat value chain. According to Statbase, in 2024 Botswana’s exports of unprocessed and processed meats were valued at approximately R706 million.
“Disease prevention and control measures, including movement bans for susceptible livestock, quarantine of affected areas, surveillance and enhanced biosecurity, are being implemented to contain the outbreaks.
“Farmers are advised to cooperate with government officials carrying out animal health controls that include surveillance, movement controls, disinfection, border patrols and other actions.”
Also read:
FMD in Botswana: Thousands vaccinated, but export markets suspend meat imports
FMD confirmed in Botswana; targeted vaccinations begun
FMD | Next batch of ARC’s locally produced vaccines signals rise in production
How one young farmer managed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on his livestock farm
FMD | War disrupts vaccine import logistics
