Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak threatens South Africa’s cattle industry

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa is racing to contain a widening epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that has triggered international trade bans, disrupted beef production, and raised alarm across the livestock sector.

The highly contagious viral disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, has now spread to five of South Africa’s nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal among the hardest hit. The outbreak is threatening the country’s red meat exports and prompting a surge in vaccination and containment efforts.

This week, the country’s largest feedlot, Karan Beef, confirmed an outbreak at its Heidelberg facility, about 50 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg. The company slaughters around 2,000 cattle daily. Its quarantine could significantly affect the domestic beef supply.

In response, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) has ordered over 900,000 doses of FMD vaccines, with the first batch expected to arrive next week. “These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks, but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

China halts South African meat imports 

The crisis has already begun to impact trade. On May 12, China, South Africa’s largest beef export market by volume, suspended imports of beef and other products from cloven-hoofed animals. 

The move followed the reporting of new FMD cases in Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. China accounted for 14% of South Africa’s frozen beef exports in 2024, contributing to a 30% rise in total beef exports, which reached 38,657 tonnes.

“This development is a stark reminder of the fragility of our export markets when faced with biosecurity threats,” said Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services. “While we respect China’s biosecurity protocols, the economic impact on South African farmers and the entire red meat value chain is severe and disheartening.”

Similar bans have been instituted by the governments of Namibia and Zimbabwe for beef and related products. 

DALRRD has traced infected animals back to livestock auctions in Utrecht and Heidelberg. “This incident underscores the risk of mixing newly acquired animals with existing herds,” said Dr. Mpho Maja, Director of Animal Health at DALRRD. 

She confirmed that despite a lack of symptoms, FMD was detected during routine checks, and stressed that a mandatory 28-day isolation period remains in place for all new livestock, regulations introduced in October 2022.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has directed Deputy Director-General Dipepeneneng Serage to lead intensified control efforts. These include stricter surveillance, improved veterinary coordination, and tighter oversight of livestock auctions and transport.

With pressure mounting, some producers are calling for a formal declaration of a state of disaster to unlock emergency support for a sector still reeling from last year’s devastating avian flu outbreak.

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