Eastern Cape Makes Steady Progress Against Fmd

The Eastern Cape commercial livestock sector may once again move cattle and sheep to the Western Cape following progress against the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the province.

Farmers organisation Agri Eastern Cape said in a notice that livestock movement to the Western Cape would be approved from outside the disease management area DMA, subject to approval from the state veterinarian for the area of destination and a permit process being followed.

Any livestock moved into the Western Cape will also have to be isolated from other livestock for 28 days.

Agri Eastern Cape is managing the permit process and has been coordinating efforts to facilitate business amid strict controls to prevent the spread of the disease.

Livestock auctions in the province may also resume under strict conditions. According to Megan Maritz, natural resources manager for Agri Eastern Cape, the movement of animals from outside the DMA to auctions will be considered, provided it is done under the permit system. Auction facilities outside the DMA will also be considered, subject to approval by the state veterinarian.

For the movement of animals from the auction to the destination, a declaration will have to be signed attesting to the 28-day quarantine period on the farm of the destination.

These concessions do, however, not apply to animals within the DMA, which remains in force in the Kouga and Koukamma local municipalities. Within this area there are six beef farms and 31 dairy farms where animals have tested positive for FMD, and 39 farms where animals have been vaccinated against the disease. A further 56 farms in the DMA are nave to the disease and not under quarantine.

However, within the DMA, there is progress with efforts to comply with conditions to have the DMA lifted. In December, surveillance testing was done on nave farms. These results, along with the results of an additional round of intensified surveillance testing, are required to prove that there is no circulating virus within the DMA. Once all these tests are complete and are negative, the national department of agriculture, land reform and rural development will consider lifting the DMA.

The department is also considering doing away with the movement restrictions outside the DMA, but it first wants to do more surveillance, according to Maritz.