Rising Biosecurity Challenges in Global Livestock Production

In recent years, the global livestock industry has faced increasing challenges due to lapses in biosecurity, leading to periodic outbreaks of major diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and African Swine Fever (ASF). A notable instance was the devastating ASF outbreak in China a few years ago, which resulted in the culling of over 2 million pigs and severely impacted the country’s breeding herds. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been investigating an unusual occurrence where HPAI, typically a poultry disease, has appeared in dairy cattle across various regions in the US.

South Africa has also experienced its share of biosecurity breaches, facing outbreaks of these significant diseases. These incidents have caused substantial financial losses for producers and disrupted export activities. However, increased collaboration between authorities and industry stakeholders has facilitated quicker containment and a return to normal operations and exports.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) recently reported a new FMD outbreak on two dairy farms in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape (EC). Prior to this, the situation appeared under control, with DALRRD’s update on May 2, 2024, indicating nine FMD outbreaks since 2019. Four of these outbreaks have been resolved and closed with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), while five remain active.

Fortunately, this latest outbreak seems isolated, as tests on animals in neighbouring farms and communal areas have returned negative results. In response, biosecurity measures have been intensified, with the affected farms placed under quarantine and neighbouring areas under precautionary quarantine as investigations continue to assess their FMD status.

The primary impact of this outbreak may be felt at local auctions, potentially affecting cash flows for farmers planning to sell animals during this period. Nonetheless, there has been no reported impact on meat and wool exports, which is encouraging news.

Maintaining stringent biosecurity is crucial for South Africa to sustain and grow its meat and wool exports. The recent reopening of the Saudi Arabian market, after a long hiatus due to FMD, along with continued access to the Chinese market, underscores the importance of effective disease containment measures to ensure ongoing market access.