‘Red meat industry threatened by foot and mouth disease’

Senior Agricultural Economist for Trade Research at National Agricultural Marketing Council Thabile Nkunjana says foot and mouth disease presents a threat to the red meat industry due to the halt in exports.

He adds that red meat could become more expensive for many households. Recently the country’s biggest feedlot in Heidelberg halted production due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at its facilities.

This as the country has been battling to contain the outbreaks of the disease for several years.

Foot and mouth disease is common among cattle, sheep and goats and is characterised by a fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips.

“For the first quarter of this year we’ve performed very well with exports for both frozen and fresh beef coming close to a billion. That is something quite big if you compare it with the previous year. So, there’s serious stakes around this, not only for the overall revenue that the sector generates but specifically for the farmers who now have to keep their products until the outbreak has been contained, and then they can continue. But that has implications for their evolution of course and for their profits.”

Foot-and-mouth disease | SA faces threat to beef supply