In line with Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act (Act No. 35 of 1984), South African Studbook has launched a new livestock traceability platform aimed at helping the red meat industry fully implement a national traceability system that has long been pursued by the sector.
By Lebogang Mashala, editor at African Farming
Herman Labuschagne of South African Studbook said IDTrax is a smart livestock traceability system designed to help farmers track, manage and protect their animals with confidence.
The launch comes shortly after Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen published a new Routine Vaccination Scheme for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Government Gazette on 4 May 2026. The scheme introduces a national framework aimed at strengthening disease control through voluntary livestock vaccination.
Issued under Section 10 of the Animal Diseases Act, the framework sets out a structured system for the vaccination, monitoring and traceability of cloven-hoofed animals, with participation open to livestock owners across the country.
Also read: FMD | Another 2 million doses of vaccine arrive while ‘cows don’t carry passports’
Labuschagne explained that IDTrax uses RFID and QR technology to allow farmers to record animal identification, movements and production history from farm to market.
“Accurate traceability improves herd management, strengthens biosecurity, supports disease control and builds buyer trust. With reliable data at your fingertips, you can make better farming decisions and position your operation for future market demands,” said Labuschagne.
He added that IDTrax simplifies livestock tracking and improves transparency across the agricultural value chain, helping farmers unlock better trading opportunities through improved traceability.
Also read: Billions directed at black farmers as agriculture budget targets inclusion and growth
Although the platform is currently being adopted mainly by stud breeders, Labuschagne emphasised that it is relevant to all livestock farmers, particularly as the industry intensifies efforts to control foot-and-mouth disease.
“We are mainly working with stud breeders, but this applies to all farmers because we all have to vaccinate our animals against foot-and-mouth. If animals are not on the traceability system, it becomes difficult to allocate vaccines to farmers who are not registered on the system,” he explained.
To participate, farmers must first comply with legal animal identification requirements. Animals must be permanently identified through tattooing or iron branding and then tagged before being registered on the platform.
Farmers can register their animals free of charge through IDTrax on www.idtrax.co.za
Also read
FMD | Relief at last! KwaZulu-Natal’s disease management area is no more
FMD | Another 2 million doses of vaccine arrive while ‘cows don’t carry passports’
FMD will only be eradicated through mass vaccination in 6-8 week time period
