Cattle marketing resumes in FMD areas
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The movement of live cattle for slaughter in FMD-infected regions is now permitted under strict conditions.
The current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was first detected on 28 September last year in the Kavango East Region and has subsequently spread to Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana Regions.
It is now present in nine constituencies these five regions.
In an update, Dr Albertina Shilongo, chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, said in line with the Animal Health Act all nine affected constituencies have been declared infected areas.
Control measures
Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene, as well as Tsumkwe in the Otjozondjupa Region, have been declared Disease Management Areas (DMAs) with several FMD control measures in place.
These include the ongoing vaccination of cattle in all northern regions. Farmers are urged to present all their cattle for vaccination whenever announced by veterinary services.
Movement of live cattle, except for direct slaughter, is not allowed in Kunene (north of the veterinary Cordon Fence) Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, and the Tsumkwe area.
Shilongo said in the case of Kavango East and Kavango West, movement of live cattle into and out of the regions is still not allowed, but movement of cattle for direct slaughter is allowed under certain conditions.
There must be proof of vaccination against FMD of the cattle intended to be moved. The last vaccination should have been done no less than 30 days and no more than six months earlier.
Pre-inspection of the cattle should be done by veterinary officials and only cattle tagged with official tags will be allowed to moved. Furthermore, all cattle must be slaughtered within 72 hours.
However, no cattle will be allowed to be moved from infected crush pens.
Movement of potentially infectious commodities out of the DMA’s such as raw meat, unpasteurised milk, untreated hides and skins, unprocessed trophies from all cloven-hoofed animals as well as livestock fodder is still prohibited.
Also barred is the movement of livestock manure and uncooked grubs, locally known as omandja, into these areas.
A number of roadblocks have been set up at strategic points and FMD surveillance patrols are continuing in all northern regions.
Shilongo said the movement of small stock from the FMD-free zone and within the DMAs for breeding and slaughter purposes is also allowed, but sealing of vehicles transporting the animals is required.
Furthermore, in-transit movement of live cloven-hooved animals and their products through DMAs is allowed, provided they are moved in sealed vehicles.
Cattle that had been in quarantine camps before the outbreak may also be slaughtered.
WINDHOEK
The movement of live cattle for slaughter in FMD-infected regions is now permitted under strict conditions.
The current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was first detected on 28 September last year in the Kavango East Region and has subsequently spread to Kavango West, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Oshana Regions.
It is now present in nine constituencies these five regions.
In an update, Dr Albertina Shilongo, chief veterinary officer in the agriculture ministry, said in line with the Animal Health Act all nine affected constituencies have been declared infected areas.
Control measures
Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene, as well as Tsumkwe in the Otjozondjupa Region, have been declared Disease Management Areas (DMAs) with several FMD control measures in place.
These include the ongoing vaccination of cattle in all northern regions. Farmers are urged to present all their cattle for vaccination whenever announced by veterinary services.
Movement of live cattle, except for direct slaughter, is not allowed in Kunene (north of the veterinary Cordon Fence) Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, and the Tsumkwe area.
Shilongo said in the case of Kavango East and Kavango West, movement of live cattle into and out of the regions is still not allowed, but movement of cattle for direct slaughter is allowed under certain conditions.
There must be proof of vaccination against FMD of the cattle intended to be moved. The last vaccination should have been done no less than 30 days and no more than six months earlier.
Pre-inspection of the cattle should be done by veterinary officials and only cattle tagged with official tags will be allowed to moved. Furthermore, all cattle must be slaughtered within 72 hours.
However, no cattle will be allowed to be moved from infected crush pens.
Movement of potentially infectious commodities out of the DMA’s such as raw meat, unpasteurised milk, untreated hides and skins, unprocessed trophies from all cloven-hoofed animals as well as livestock fodder is still prohibited.
Also barred is the movement of livestock manure and uncooked grubs, locally known as omandja, into these areas.
A number of roadblocks have been set up at strategic points and FMD surveillance patrols are continuing in all northern regions.
Shilongo said the movement of small stock from the FMD-free zone and within the DMAs for breeding and slaughter purposes is also allowed, but sealing of vehicles transporting the animals is required.
Furthermore, in-transit movement of live cloven-hooved animals and their products through DMAs is allowed, provided they are moved in sealed vehicles.
Cattle that had been in quarantine camps before the outbreak may also be slaughtered.
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