More than 90% of SA cattle vaccinated, but booster rollout remains uncertain

More than 90% of South Africa's cattle have been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease, surpassing the government's target six weeks ahead of schedule, according to Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp. Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, causes sores on their tongues, hooves, and teats. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a national disaster in his State of the Nation Address, seven years after South Africa lost its FMD-free status.

Aucamp's department announced that all provinces had moved into the next phase of the vaccination campaign, providing booster doses to maintain cattle immunity. However, Dr Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers' Organisation, expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding booster rollouts. Most commercial farmers in Maré's organisation had not received booster shots, and many farmers had stopped reporting new outbreaks.

He claimed that the government departments would vaccinate new outbreaks, and some provinces would still vaccinate those who did not receive a first dose. Maré also pointed out that some farmers had not yet received their first dose and were still waiting to be vaccinated.

The lack of reporting and uncertain booster rollout has made it difficult to accurately measure the decline in new outbreaks, according to Maré. The national herd is estimated to be around 14 million or slightly more, but the last animal census was conducted in 1998, leaving the exact number unknown. Some export markets have opened to meat from vaccinated cattle, but South Africa would regain full status only if vaccination became compulsory and every animal received its doses and boosters on time.

Aucamp praised the achievement of reaching a 90% vaccination rate early, attributing it to the collaboration between government and farmers. He highlighted the rapid control of FMD spread and the protection of South Africa's livelihoods and export markets. The department bought and distributed over 22 million vaccine doses, vaccinating just under 11 million cattle and about four million through the private sector.