South Africa’s livestock and poultry sector has endured one of its most difficult periods in recent history due to the spread of animal diseases. Over the past three years, the country has faced outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle, African swine fever in pigs, and avian influenza in poultry. According to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz, these developments have had a damaging effect on exports, sector growth, and the transformation of agriculture.
A Historic Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak
In 2022, six of South Africa’s nine provinces reported FMD outbreaks—the widest spread of the disease in the country’s history. This led to heightened urgency from both government and industry stakeholders to strengthen biosecurity and surveillance. Sihlobo notes that this situation prompted greater focus on improving veterinary and laboratory capacity, including efforts to meet vaccine production needs.
Trade Losses and Impact on Transformation
The consequences of these outbreaks were seen not only in the loss of livestock but also in a sharp drop in export volumes. In 2022, South Africa’s beef exports fell by 16% year-on-year to 26,881 tonnes due to temporary market closures. The sheep industry also took a hit, as China suspended wool imports. As a result, South Africa’s wool exports declined by 19% to 42,239 tonnes, with the Chinese market accounting for the largest decline.
Sihlobo underscores that the livestock and poultry industries contribute roughly half of agriculture’s gross value added and are vital for black farmer inclusion. He cites estimates from the National Agricultural Marketing Council, which suggest that black farmers account for 34% of cattle, 18% of wool, and 13% of mohair production. According to him, “the prevalence of animal disease outbreaks in the past few years slowed South Africa’s commercial agriculture, export ambition and transformation in the industry.”
Signs of Recovery
Despite the setbacks, 2023 showed early signs of recovery. South Africa’s beef exports increased by 3% year-on-year to 27,675 tonnes. For wool, negotiations between South African and Chinese authorities to reassure the latter of disease prevention measures led to resumed exports. Consequently, wool exports grew by 18% year-on-year to 49,715 tonnes.
Further progress was announced on October 25, 2024, when the Department of Agriculture confirmed that the FMD outbreak had been successfully resolved in North West, Free State, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga. “The foot and mouth disease virus is no longer present,” the Department stated. The World Organization for Animal Health officially closed the outbreak in those provinces. Although KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape remain affected, no new signs of the disease were reported in the previous month.
A Way Forward
Sihlobo commends the combined efforts of the government and industry, calling it “admirable progress” that supports South Africa’s goal of expanding red meat exports. However, he stresses the importance of addressing lingering challenges in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
He also calls for a renewed focus on institutions like the Agricultural Research Council and Onderstepoort Biological Products. These bodies are essential for vaccine production and broader livestock disease management. For South Africa to regain and grow its agricultural export share, Sihlobo argues, continuous collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential.