The Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) welcomes the announcement by the Minister that the whole country will be vaccinated against FMD.
The biggest issue with FMD for primary extensive livestock producers is not the disease itself, but the economic consequences associated with it.
FMD presents mild symptoms in extensive conditions, and the animals heal fully, but the producer cannot participate in the normal market channels anymore, as his/her herd is vaccinated, and animals can only go for direct slaughter. This poses a major problem, as the lion’s share of South African cattle producers operate a cow-calf system, which means they must sell weaned calves. A commodity with no market, in the case of FMD.
The virus has a significant impact on the rest of the red meat value chain, as feedlots are required to remain under quarantine for extended periods, creating market bottlenecks and causing price disruptions. The industry as a whole is in desperate need of a solution, as this crisis is crippling it.
With the announcement, we can now follow a progressive pathway in terms of vaccination, and in our view, it is the first tangible step in the right direction. It is something that the RPO, as well as its value chain partners in the Red Meat Primary Cluster, has been lobbying for with the government. This action plan means that weaner producers will regain market access, feedlots will resume operations, and we can return to a normal flow of products in the red meat value chain.
Source: RPO
