Farmers have a duty to ensure that they don’t bring animals with foot-and-mouth disease onto their property, Northern Cape officials warned this week.
The provincial minister for agriculture, environmental affairs, rural development and land reform, Mase Manopole, urges farmers in a press statement to maintain their vigilance as the threat of the disease crossing its borders isn’t over.
“Following the outbreaks of FMD in North West and the Free State, the Northern Cape placed its officials on high alert and conducted targeted surveillance at known places of animal congregation,” her department says.
“While officials can conduct surveillance, a farmer or persons involved in trade of animals and animal products have a duty to ensure that the disease is not introduced onto their property and that they know the health status of the animals they buy.”
Animals unmarked
The department further says it has seen a “disturbing trend” of livestock not being permanently marked as required by Section 7 of the Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002).
“This is a matter which we will have to escalate to the stock theft police directorate and other stakeholders,” the MEC says.
“We have also noted that, while officials target known places, there are speculators who first background cattle on farms before presenting them at auctions, abattoirs or feedlots and that the surveillance may miss the initial introduction of suspect animals into the province.
“We urge farmers to be extra vigilant in this regard and demand information on the origin of animals before they arrive for backgrounding.”
Western Cape
Similarly, the Western Cape department of agriculture also recently pleaded with farmers and traders to keep FMD from entering the yet unaffected province.
It warned that the disease has an incubation period of up to two weeks and that animals could appear healthy while in fact carrying the disease. “Auctions create high-risk opportunities for animals from different origins to gather, mix and move to new locations. Buying animals at an auction … is not recommended.”
The department also recommended to farmers that a certificate from a private veterinarian accompany all purchased animals. “The vet should confirm that the disease isn’t present in the area of origin and that the animals being moved are clinically healthy. Animals must then be kept isolated at the destination for at least four weeks while being watched closely for signs of illness, before they join the rest of the herd.”
Beefmaster Group
Concerned leaders from the Beefmaster Group, too, released a press statement to say that the threat of FDM is “far from over”.
“There is a perception that FMD is no longer posing a threat. But the reality is that FMD is still rife,” said veterinary surgeon Dr Shaun Morris in a statement released by the group. “What we are seeing on the ground is evidence of disease. It is a massive problem.”
He says that the predominant strain of the virus in circulation is the SAT 3 virus, based on serological results obtained. “The problem is that the virus induces very mild clinical signs in cattle that are exposed to the virus and it may be that, if a person is not aware of what signs to look for, the disease may go unnoticed in a herd of cattle.”
Roelie van Reenen, supply chain executive at the Beefmaster Group, adds that, if FMD is not brought under control, the ramifications for the entire industry are dire. “All industry role players need to take seriously their responsibility to help limit the spread of the disease as much as possible, as we cannot expect government authorities alone to clamp down on it. We simply have to stop it from spreading further.”
ALSO READ: FMD outbreak: Ministers’ advice to safeguard animals
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
