While the economy is slowing down and South Africans look forward to spending the festive season with family, livestock farmers face a bleak festive season as foot-and-mouth disease causes massive financial losses.
The Department of Agriculture is dragging its feet with enforcing legislation while more and more farmers are struggling to keep their heads above water.
Animals infected with the disease may only be slaughtered at a few designated abattoirs, while herds within a 10 km radius of an outbreak are placed under quarantine. This cuts off the affected farmers’ income, resulting in severe financial hardship.
Cattle farming is scattered across the country, but final fattening mostly takes place in large feedlots within reasonable distances of urban areas. This means cattle are transported over long distances, facilitating the spread of the contagious disease.
Containing herds where the disease is prevalent is, therefore, crucial in combating it.
The reality, however, is that these restrictions are adhered to by law-abiding commercial farmers, but there is virtually no law enforcement to prevent the illegal transport of infected animals. During a crisis such as this, roadblocks should at the very least be placed at provincial borders to ensure cattle are not moved from restricted areas.
There are no such measures in place, though, and no indication from the Department of Agriculture that it will be requested or implemented.
It is the Department’s responsibility to enable farmers to quickly confirm whether sick animals have foot-and-mouth disease and ensure those who wish to vaccinate can do so. Currently, however, the waiting period for test results is two weeks or longer. By then, the animals in question have already recovered.
Surrounding herds that have to be quarantined after a positive result could also be legally moved during the waiting period, allowing the disease to spread further.
It is government’s duty to ensure all farmers who wish to vaccinate are able to do so. Onderstepoort Biological Products, the state institution that produced sufficient vaccines for decades, can no longer meet demand due to poor management.
One solution to the problem would be to license existing and privately owned biological facilities – but it is not happening.
The Department of Agriculture’s most recent policy is to vaccinate the entire South African cattle population. There are serious questions about the viability of this, though. According to an earlier calculation by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, vaccinating the national herd would cost around R5,4 billion. Traceability of cattle on communal and municipal commonage poses an additional practical problem.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) insists that existing regulations be enforced stringently, with a focus on traceability of transported animals, rapid availability of test results and vaccines. This is within reach of government – if it would only try.
