Emerging livestock farmers need more than access to land and animals to build successful commercial farming businesses. Strong animal-health practices, biosecurity, access to finance, traceability and markets are all critical pieces of the puzzle.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
This was among the key messages from the recent Sernick Emerging Farmer’s Day in the Free State, where speakers from government and industry shared practical advice and perspectives on some of the biggest challenges facing livestock farmers.
With foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) continuing to dominate discussions in the livestock industry, animal health and disease management featured prominently, alongside funding and the need to better position emerging farmers within the formal red meat value chain.
Biosecurity remains critical in FMD fight
Dr Shaun Morris emphasised that South Africa’s response to FMD cannot depend on vaccination alone.
While vaccination remains an important tool, Morris said biosecurity, control over livestock movements and an effective national disease-control strategy remain essential. Moving animals whose disease status is unknown can contribute to the spread of FMD, making compliance with movement requirements particularly important.
He also highlighted the risks posed by people moving between farms and coming into contact with livestock, stressing that farmers need to pay closer attention to who enters their properties.
Morris further highlighted the importance of ensuring that vaccines are appropriate for the virus circulating in the field and of strengthening cooperation between government, scientists and the private sector.
Free State Agriculture MEC Elzabé Rockman echoed the importance of biosecurity and cooperation, warning against complacency as vaccination progresses.
“No one of us is going to win this battle on our own,” she said, stressing the importance of collaboration between government, farmers and industry.
Rockman said uncontrolled movement of animals, including across provincial boundaries, remained a significant challenge. She also cautioned against creating divisions between different categories of farmers in the response to FMD, arguing that farmers need to work together rather than blame one another.
Also read: RMIS opens FMD vaccine ordering platform; secures 4.5 million additional doses
Vaccination starts long before the injection
Wynand Erasmus of Zoetis Animal Health took farmers through the practical steps required for an effective vaccination programme.
He explained that vaccination and immunisation are not necessarily the same thing. Vaccination is the act of administering the vaccine, while successful immunisation means the animal actually develops the required immune response.
Farmers should therefore think beyond simply putting a needle into an animal. Erasmus encouraged farmers to read vaccine labels, plan vaccination programmes properly, maintain the cold chain, check expiry dates and ensure vaccination equipment is properly calibrated.
Erasmus also stressed the importance of vaccinating at herd level. “If enough animals react to the vaccine, we reach herd immunity and that stops the spreading of the disease. That’s our goal,” he said.
Proper animal restraint, safe handling and accurate record-keeping are equally important. Farmers should record which animals were vaccinated, what product was used and when it was administered, particularly because the information may be needed months later when planning boosters and future vaccinations.
Also read: Good record-keeping helps you manage cash flow and profits
Traceability can protect markets
Ernest Makua of Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) turned the discussion towards traceability and the commercialisation of emerging livestock enterprises.
Makua explained that traceability provides information about where animals originate and their movement through the red meat value chain. This becomes particularly important during disease outbreaks because buyers need reliable information to assess the risk associated with livestock originating from particular areas.
Traceability is also increasingly important for maintaining and expanding export markets. Makua said more than 30 000 farmers had registered on the RMIS traceability platform and encouraged emerging farmers to participate.
He stressed that the bigger objective is to help livestock owners make the transition towards operating as farmers running sustainable businesses. Record-keeping, access to information and understanding what the market requires are fundamental to that transition.
Also read: Traceability of livestock is the bridge between South Africa’s renowned quality and global confidence
Funding must build sustainable businesses
Wilma Muller of Land Bank focused on another major obstacle confronting emerging farmers: access to finance.
She outlined funding opportunities available to qualifying agricultural businesses, including blended finance, while emphasising that projects must demonstrate commercial viability. But finance, she said, cannot be separated from proper business management.
Farmers need realistic financial projections, should understand the financial requirements of their businesses and must regularly revisit their plans as production conditions and the economy change.
Muller also highlighted the importance of agricultural insurance and the support services available to farmers, including mentorship and assistance in areas where additional technical or business expertise may be required. Ultimately, she said, farmers receiving support also carry a responsibility to make those investments work.
The objective is to help farmers reach a point where they can operate as successful commercial businesses without continually depending on grant funding – while ensuring funding remains available to support the next generation of farmers.
Also read: ‘Keep knocking on doors’: Farmer shares why persistence pays when applying for farm finance
Get the fundamentals right
Taken together, the presentations delivered a common message: Developing sustainable emerging farmers requires an interconnected approach. Healthy livestock, strong biosecurity, traceable animals and access to markets must be supported by sound financial management and viable farming businesses. For emerging farmers seeking to move into the commercial mainstream, success will increasingly depend on getting all of these fundamentals right.
Also read:
What financiers look for in a farming business plan
Flood damage and insurance – are you covered? What farmers need to know
