South Africa has launched a nationwide livestock vaccination programme
to cope a growing outbreak of feet and mouse disease, which has hit one of the country's largest beef producers
and disrupted the meat industry. Agriculture Minister visited Karen Beave and Gautanga Monday
marking the start of the feedlot level vaccination campaign, a first for the country
This is the first time we'll be vaccinating at a feedlot level. to get foot and mouth disease under control
Now this is obviously very important. The beef industry is exceptionally important to South Africa
from both a consumer but also from an economic perspective. Karen beef, the feedlot where we're at today
is responsible for around 30% of the sector and obviously has caused price shocks now
when their operation has had to be stalled because of foot and mouth disease
The highly contagious disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals, is not usually fatal but causes fever, blisters and reduced productivity in infected animals
The reason now why the state is intervening and vaccinating is to try and bring the viral load
down and see how best we can contain the disease and also to facilitate us getting back to normality
because currently the farm is under quarantine. Nothing can move in, nothing can move out. So
So there are cattle that are already ready to be slaughtered, but because of the outbreak
you know, they are unable to be moved to an abattoir. Authorities hope the vaccination campaign will stabilize the livestock sector and restore
trade flows as producers and veterinarians rise to prevent further economic fallout