MOSSEL BAY NEWS - It was never a matter of 'if' Mossel Bay would get a positive case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but rather 'when'.

So said John Robertson, the owner of Rooiheuwels Farms, a large dairy farm in the greater Mossel Bay area. 

"This is not the first agricultural crisis in the Western Cape, but for us, it is the biggest. If we get a positive case on one of our farms, it has the potential to wipe us out," he said.

The Mossel Bay district stretches from Jonkersberg across Great Break River, all the way down to Gourits and Herbertsdale. 

Robertson said, according to his knowledge, there are two dairy farms in Hartenbos, three in Brandwag, three in Little Brak River, about 10 in Herbertsdale, one in Friemersheim and a smattering of farms along the escarpments of Ruiterbos and Groot Zorgfontein.

This does not include the informal farmers with their very small numbers of livestock.

"The effects on the big and small farms will be equally devastating," he said.

The threat of FMD is such a great risk to Robertson's business that his management has not allowed anyone who does not work on Rooiheuwels Farms or perform essential services there to enter those properties since November.

Rojeanne de Wet, spokesperson for Agri Western Cape, said all farmers working with livestock will be affected by FMD. 

This includes dairy farmers, meat producers, wool farmers and abattoirs, too. 

"A positive case of FMD has a huge impact on the export of meat and wool," she said. 

"A positive case of FMD on your farm will have an economic impact. Exports are on hold and costs have increased for farmers and farmworkers. This halts their income, especially for producers relying on regular auctions or feedlot sales."

Abattoirs need to be registered/approved by the Department of Health to slaughter FMD-infected animals. 

"This means they cannot slaughter uninfected animals. The whole abattoir needs to be cleaned before they carry on with normal work," De Wet said.

To report suspected FDM incidents, contact the Garden Route Emergency Call Centre on 044 805 5071 or WhatsApp 081 709 5193.

Previous articles:

• Foot-and-mouth confirmed in Mossel Bay
• Foot-and-mouth disease: know the signs in cattle
• Test results expected soon for suspected Mossel Bay foot-and-mouth disease case
• R100m made available for foot-and-mouth disease vaccines
• Breakthrough in fight against foot-and-mouth disease
• Foot-and-mouth disease poses major threat as farmers step up biosecurity
• Boere in Mosselbaai hou asem op: Verdagte bek-en klouseer-geval ondersoek

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’