FSA supports the measures to control foot-and-mouth disease

“If the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the Free State and other provinces cannot be combated, the Free State and the country face the destruction of our commercial livestock industry,” says Francois Wilken, President of Free State Agriculture.

This will be accompanied by the destruction of the export potential of our wool and red meat products, including venison, and massive economic losses and associated job losses for the country and the entire red meat value chain.

“Free State Agriculture supports the 21-day ban on the movement of livestock to prevent any further spread of the highly contagious virus and requests all livestock farmers and the livestock industry, including state and private veterinarians, to all work together to implement the well-thought-out, critical make the strategic plan work.

“On top of the ban on the movement of livestock from midnight tonight (18 August, 00:00) without the necessary permits within the limits of the law, Free State Agriculture, RPO and NWKV warn all livestock farmers to also apply the necessary biosecurity and contamination measures look after their own farms and support the initiatives of our members who already have the necessary measures in place and apply them with or without the help of the state.

Members of the public who are stopped by farmers, the Department of Agriculture and/or state veterinarians on the road to disinfect their vehicles and shoes are also requested to please cooperate.

With 18 positively confirmed cases in the Free State, assurances have been given by the State Veterinarians that all 60,000 animals that were spotted on the infected farms have been vaccinated and must stand for 21 days before the cattle can be safely moved without shedding any virus. In the meantime, neighboring farms in the quarantine areas as well as any other farms to which cattle were moved, as well as farms along the routes, must be alert for any signs of foot-and-mouth disease for the next 21 days and report them to a veterinarian immediately.

*View the related Government Gazette here.