Farmers and agriculture groups are deeply concerned about the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Africa, according to The Citizen.
A case was confirmed at Karan Beef’s feedlot near Heidelberg in Gauteng on June 2, with 120,000 cattle at the facility. Senior feedlot veterinarian Dirk Verwoerd reported that approximately 2% of the herd is infected, and a controlled slaughter will follow vaccinations.
Southern African Agri Initiative president Theo de Jager has been in discussions with the Department of Agriculture since December 2024, warning that uncontrolled livestock movement could threaten meat and dairy production.
