SA’s Bold Plan to Vaccinate Every Cow
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Guest: Thabile Nkunjana, Senior Agricultural Economist, National Agricultural Marketing Council
South Africa has just announced one of the most ambitious animal-health interventions in its history, vaccinating every single cow in the country against Foot and Mouth Disease. With a national cattle herd of 7.2 million, this is no small feat.
Speaking at the African Farmers Association of South Africa’s Conference, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed the move, a direct response to the ongoing FMD crisis that has restricted exports, hurt farmers’ incomes, and threatened the backbone of South Africa’s red meat industry.
But how realistic is this plan? Where will the vaccines come from? And can logistics keep up with ambition?
South Africa has just announced one of the most ambitious animal-health interventions in its history, vaccinating every single cow in the country against Foot and Mouth Disease. With a national cattle herd of 7.2 million, this is no small feat.
Speaking at the African Farmers Association of South Africa’s Conference, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed the move, a direct response to the ongoing FMD crisis that has restricted exports, hurt farmers’ incomes, and threatened the backbone of South Africa’s red meat industry.
But how realistic is this plan? Where will the vaccines come from? And can logistics keep up with ambition?
