An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed on a commercial livestock farm in the Moqhaka Local Municipality near Kroonstad, Free State. The property was placed under quarantine on 8 July, and immediate containment and surveillance measures are under way.
This marks the sixth province affected by FMD in South Africa, bringing the total number of reported outbreaks nationwide to 270—with the highest concentrations in KwaZulu-Natal (191 cases), followed by the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, and now the Free State.
Impact on Local Livestock Industry
Free State Agriculture (FSA) warned of the economic toll the outbreak could have on farmers and the province’s broader livestock sector, which plays a critical role in the regional economy. The FSA and other stakeholders are urging all role players—farmers, veterinarians, auctioneers, and transporters—to intensify biosecurity efforts and report suspicious animal movements or symptoms immediately.
“The Free State economy is largely based on stock farming. A widespread FMD threat would have a devastating impact,” said Andries Raath, regional manager of TLU SA and vice-chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation in the province.
National Response and Vaccine Rollout
In response to the outbreak, 900,000 doses of FMD vaccine have been procured from the Botswana Vaccine Institute, with R72 million allocated for vaccination of affected herds. This includes mass vaccination campaigns at major commercial feedlots, such as Karan Beef’s facility in Heidelberg, where the first FMD case was confirmed on 2 June.
Only 26% of the cattle at the Heidelberg feedlot have been vaccinated so far, due to limited dose availability. The company, which supplies 10% of South Africa’s domestic beef, has suspended operations and awaits further clearance from government authorities.
Movement restrictions have been lifted in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, following sustained containment in key disease management areas.
Call to Action
Authorities and industry bodies stress the importance of early detection, adherence to government-issued control protocols, and inter-agency cooperation to curb the disease’s spread and limit economic disruption.
“We await further guidance from provincial authorities on next steps for the agriculture sector,” said Dr Jack Armour, FSA commercial manager.
