The effects of foot and mouth disease. Picture: Facebook/Intelact The spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is tightening its grip on South Africa’s livestock sector, pushing farmers closer to the brink as the government promises intervention, while warning its full recovery plan could take more than a decade to deliver results. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.
The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. Northern Cape is the only province in the country that has not reported a case, but in other provinces the disease is dominating, threatening dairy farms in KwaZulu-Natal and livestock in the Free State. Some farmers have started to suffer mentally because of the idea they might lose everything they have worked for.
The financial implications of the disease are also significant. The department of agriculture said the disease has hit four provinces, Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State and North West, the hardest, with event organisers in the Free State planning to cancel livestock shows. Elmarie Prinsloo, CEO of Bloem Skou said they had taken a decision to be responsible by not having a gathering of cloven-hoofed animals at this year’s event.
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“We at Bloem Show are taking the responsible decision, in the interest of our stud breeders, associations and the broader agricultural sector, to restrict the gathering of cloven-hoofed animals on the Bloemfontein showgrounds until further notice,” she said. “As a result, the Bloem Show cattle and small-stock show for 2026 is cancelled. This decision has not been taken lightly and follows extensive consultations with industry leaders and stakeholders.” Prinsloo acknowledged that cancelling the Bloem Show cattle and small-stock show will result in dire financial implications, to them, farmers and to the province as a whole. “This decision has a significant primary and secondary impact on the local economy in terms of service providers, participants and the marketing platform for breeders, institutions and associations,” she said.
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