SAVC urges farmers to strengthen everyday biosecurity

SOUTH AFRICA – The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) is urging livestock producers, veterinary professionals and animal owners to treat biosecurity as a daily responsibility rather than a response reserved for disease outbreaks.

The council said simple measures such as disinfecting equipment, checking new animals before introducing them to a herd and controlling the movement of people and vehicles can help prevent pathogens from entering and spreading between farms.

The warning comes as South Africa continues to strengthen its response to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). 

The Department of Agriculture has described biosecurity, movement controls, vaccination and early reporting as key elements of the country’s FMD response.

According to the SAVC, biosecurity involves preventing disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, from spreading between animals, people and the environment.

Farm biosecurity depends on daily decisions

Dr Pieter Vervoort, an urban mixed-practice veterinarian at SAVC, said gaining commitment from everyone involved is often the first challenge.

“The buy-in to biosecurity is often the first hurdle to be crossed. Educating everyone involved is imperative to success,” he said.

The council said farmers can reduce disease risks through routine practices such as disinfecting equipment before moving between camps, maintaining appropriate separation between animal groups and inspecting animals before they enter a herd or flock.

The South African government’s FMD guidance similarly advises farmers to limit the introduction of new animals where possible, source animals from known clean farms with health declarations, restrict access by people and vehicles and maintain secure farm boundaries.

Vervoort said understanding the pathogen involved is important when designing an effective biosecurity programme.

“Understanding how a pathogen spreads, its life cycle and the conditions in which it survives can help professionals determine where the greatest vulnerabilities lie,” he said.

SAVC warned that a single weak point can undermine an otherwise comprehensive system. 

An animal introduced without appropriate health checks, contaminated equipment or soil carried on footwear can all provide routes for pathogens to enter previously unaffected areas.

FMD highlights cost of weak biosecurity

South Africa’s recent FMD experience demonstrates the wider consequences of disease entering livestock production systems. 

Outbreaks can result in animal losses, movement restrictions, disrupted production and trade impacts.

The government introduced new national FMD control measures in June 2026 o strengthen disease management while reducing unnecessary disruption to livestock producers.

South Africa has also expanded access to vaccination. 

In July, the Department of Agriculture launched an online portal allowing livestock owners to apply for authorisation to vaccinate their own animals, while the government continues to provide vaccines in areas experiencing new outbreaks and to farmers unable to afford them.

However, vaccination does not replace farm-level biosecurity. 

Government vaccination documentation explicitly states that vaccination reduces clinical signs but does not prevent animals from becoming infected, meaning reasonable biosecurity measures must continue even after vaccination.

SAVC therefore said education remains one of the most important components of disease prevention.

“People may be expected to understand disease risks and prevention measures, but assumptions can create dangerous gaps,” the council said.

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