Disease outbreaks disrupt meat supply in South Africa
Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, poultry import bans, and slaughter delays are driving up meat prices across the country.
SOUTH AFRICA – Veterinary officials in South Africa’s North West Province are responding to a series of new foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks that have been detected in multiple locations.
Dr. Langa Madyibi, who heads Veterinary Services at the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, confirmed active FMD cases at an abattoir in Madibeng and on farms in Fenerstop, Potchefstroom, and Koster.
The first case emerged at the Madibeng abattoir during routine testing, where samples from slaughtered animals tested positive for the virus.
The infected cattle were traced back to a farm in Fenerstop, and authorities immediately returned the animals to the farm and collected more samples for further analysis.
Shortly after, veterinary teams confirmed another infection on a separate farm in Potchefstroom, raising concerns about wider transmission in the area.
An additional and unrelated outbreak was identified on a farm in Koster, indicating that the virus may be spreading across district boundaries.
In response, the department has issued quarantine notices for all affected farms, and teams have been deployed to carry out animal counts and track potential exposure in nearby herds.
Officials are also reviewing livestock movement records to determine how the disease may have spread between locations.
Surveillance efforts are being ramped up in areas surrounding the confirmed cases to assess the risk of further infections.
Meat Prices Rising as Supply Tightens
The timing of the outbreaks has contributed to a sharp rise in meat prices across the country, with disruptions to slaughter operations worsening an already tight supply.
National inflation data shows meat prices climbed 4.4% year-on-year in May, the highest increase in nearly two years, compared to 3.2% recorded in April.
Monthly meat inflation slowed slightly to 1.2% in May, down from 2.3% the previous month, but producer-level costs remain high.
Class A beef carcasses are now selling for more than US$3.83 (R70) per kilogram, the highest rate ever recorded in South Africa.
The price pressures are also being worsened by a continued ban on poultry imports from Brazil, the country’s main supplier, due to avian flu outbreaks.
This has limited access to mechanically deboned meat (MDM), a vital ingredient in many processed meats, which South Africa does not produce in sufficient quantities.
As a result, food inflation more broadly also edged higher in May, with annual growth reaching 4.4% and monthly increases holding at 1.2%.
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