Relooking livestock biosecurity

Biosecurity is critical for everyone involved in livestock production. It’s especially important considering the contribution of agriculture to livelihoods in South Africa. It’s also widely reported that more than 70% of the world’s poorest countries rely on livestock for survival.

When stakeholders in the red-meat value chain, particularly primary producers, hear the word “outbreak” we justifiably panic. The devastation brought about by a livestock disease of major economic importance like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is familiar to many South African livestock farmers. (There are currently outbreaks in the North West, KZN and