As the country battles against the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and runs out of time to ensure exports are not banned, experts have called for long-term biosecurity measures to avoid a catastrophe.
Practical, consistent biosecurity measures remain the livestock industry’s strongest defence against costly disease outbreaks, according to Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) livestock technical advisor, Frans Dolamo.
While the focus is on getting vaccines to farmers across the country as soon as possible, farmers cannot ignore adapting to realities and working towards sustainable farming practices free of diseases, Dolamo said during a recent RMIS webinar.
Battle of survival
He urged farmers to adopt simple, daily practices to protect their animals, income, and long-term viability. “We must align ourselves with the current disease situation in our country. Biosecurity is not optional. It is essential.”
Dolamo explained that biosecurity means protecting a farm from diseases that can enter and spread among animals. He emphasised that effective biosecurity is straightforward and involves consistently taking the right steps each day to prevent disease from entering the farm.
Disease outbreaks are costly, affecting veterinary fees, treatments, animal losses, and movement restrictions. “One outbreak can undo years of hard work,” he warned.
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How diseases enter farms
Most diseases are introduced through routine farm activities rather than by chance. Dolamo explained that every time a new animal is brought onto a farm, whether from an auction or a neighbour, its health history comes with it, and healthy-looking animals may still carry infections.
He highlighted that in communal grazing areas, when animals mix, diseases do not discriminate between farms, stressing the need for coordinated action among farmers. He also noted that livestock trucks, feed deliveries, shared equipment, and even mud on tyres can carry pathogens, making strict clothing changes and disinfection protocols essential.
Prevention, Dolamo emphasised, is far cheaper than a cure. “One sick animal can cost more than a year of good biosecurity.”
Dolamo recommended these practical measures for farmers:
- Controlled access: Keep a visitor logbook, limit unnecessary visits, and manage entry through a single main gate.
- Quarantine: Newly purchased animals should be isolated for 28 days, monitored daily, and kept away from the main herd.
- Record-keeping: Track animal movements, treatments, vaccinations, and camp allocations to enable rapid trace-back during an outbreak.
- Hygiene: Footbaths, disinfectants, and consistent PPE use are essential.
He noted that workers are the farm’s first line of detection, and training them to recognise early signs of disease while encouraging prompt reporting is essential for effective biosecurity.
National FMD response
In beefing up the FMD task team, minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen has appointed Dr Gary Bauer to represent the wildlife sector, ensuring the role of buffaloes, natural carriers of the FMD virus, is integrated into national disease control.
“The stakes are extremely high. If we do not get this right, the consequences for both livestock and wildlife will be long-lasting. But if we stay disciplined, science-driven and united, we can restore our status and protect the entire value chain.
“The wildlife sector must be fully integrated into our FMD recovery plan. Buffaloes are central to the epidemiology of this disease in Southern Africa. Any serious strategy to restore our status must account for that reality,” he said.
A dedicated FMD support line has been launched to provide farmers with advice on symptoms, movement controls, vaccination updates, and biosecurity protocols. Contact 0860 246 640, with a complementary WhatsApp channel for real-time updates.
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