Botswana announces ban on SA cows amid foot and mouth disease outbreak

Botswana has announced yet another ban on South African imports and this follows the outbreak of foot and mouth disease that has hit the beef production sectors. 
 
The Southern African nation announced that it has suspended all exports of cattle and beef related  products from South Africa. 
 
This announcement comes while local authorities investigate a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease – a move that will definitely hit meat producers. 
 
“The suspected cases involve animals in the North-Eastern district that’s close to Zimbabwe,” said Kefentse Motshegwa, Botswana’s acting director of Veterinary Services. 
 
ITWeb published an article that all movement and slaughter of cattle within the country have also been halted as the department of agriculture looks to deal with the disease. 
 
“The ban on the movement of cattle follows a similar step by neighbour South Africa last week to curb an outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease which affects cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It does not affect human beings,” reports the publication. 
 
“Cattle exports are a key source of foreign currency for Botswana, after minerals and tourism. The southern African country’s beef producers enjoy relaxed export terms with the European Union and Norway.” 
 
The movement restriction facilitates disease investigation and will be lifted once the probe is concluded, Motshegwa said. 
 
Meanwhile, the ban comes as Namibia and Botswana opted against importing several fresh produce from neighbouring South Africa as they looked to boost their local farmers. 
 
The move by these two countries has certainly made relations a bit edgy between the three SADC countries.  
 
Main Image: South African Cows/Agrifarms