Foot and mouth day to help farmers recover SA’s export status

THE Limpopo Animal Health Forum (LAHF) with the national industry organisations for red meat producers will host a foot and mouth disease (FMD) information day in support of the government’s efforts to effectively manage the effects and spill-over of the disease outside the controlled zone.

Event organisers say the goal of the information day is to comprehensively inform all concerned parties about the planned management procedures and responsibilities of each role player on the road to recovering South Africa’s export status.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries had announced that it had been informed of positive laboratory results for FMD and that the Vhembe district of Limpopo had been quarantined.

Samples were collected during a disease investigation after reports of cattle with lameness were received. The positive location is just outside the FMD Control Zone in the Free Zone without vaccination.

It is in the high surveillance area of the FMD Free Zone. The matter was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on January 7.

The official OIE-recognised FMDfree status of South Africa has been suspended. Any exports where FMD free zone attestation is required cannot be certified.

The department said the impact on trade had been devastating.

The Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) said concerned parties and especially farmers who had been influenced by the announced procedures to manage the situation were invited to attend the information day on Wednesday at Adam’s Apple Hotel and Conference Centre, Makhado Limpopo.

“Our message to consumers remains: the meat in shop fridges is as safe as always. There is no need for concern. Enjoy your red meat every day,” said the organisation.

It said the outbreak came at a time when the industry was suffering from a country-wide drought.

“Feed and maize prices have escalated and consumers’ purchasing power is under pressure. This is in the middle of a herd rebuilding phase after the 2016 drought. All these factors put the producers’ cash flow and financial survival under pressure. All these factors represent a challenge to the mission of the RPO, which is based on the facilitation of a competitive and sustainable red meat environment for the producer,” said organisation chairperson Koos van der Ryst.

He said in the previous year (January to December 2018), a total of 29 180 tons of beef had been exported, which represented 4.02% of local production. During the same period 701.2 tons of sheep meat was exported at a value of R43 164 652, representing 0.69% of the local production. A total of 16474815 sheepskins to the value of R594 182 260 and 8 552 648kg of hides to the value of R102 445 668 were exported.

“All indications point to the fact that most of South Africa’s trade partners are not going to accept meat imports from the country. Accordingly, we must accept that the estimated 4.02% beef and 0.69% sheep meat ear-marked for exports will be taken up in the local market. This may result in consumer prices moving sideways and even downwards. This scenario will obviously be catastrophic for producers,” he said.

The organisation said the loss of South Africa’s FMD free zone status was caused by only two animals that had tested positive for the disease outside the free zone. Signs of disease may include depressed animals, sores in animals’ mouth causing reluctance to eat, and lameness.

Any suspected case of the disease must be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately.