A temporary shortage of beef products on the cards following FMD

A local butcher in Salt River has warned of a temporary shortage of beef products across the market.

PICTURE: Facebook - Good Hope Meat

This comes as following a case of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has been detected at the Karan Beef feedlot facility in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

In a statement, KARAN BEEF said the facility was placed under pre-emptive quarantine on Friday, as a precautionary measure, following the identification of a suspected infection. The presence of FMD was subsequently confirmed on Monday.

‘’This unfortunate development highlights the ongoing risks faced by the livestock industry, even under rigorous control systems. KARAN BEEF is working closely with State Veterinary Services to ensure swift containment and to minimise any further risk to the broader industry. As always, KARAN BEEF remains committed to transparency, compliance, and maintaining the highest standards of animal health and welfare. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,’’ it said.

Good Hope Meat Hyper beef products are supplied by Karan Beef, but assured customers that it is working with alternative suppliers to secure stock

‘’We understand that this news may raise concerns, and we want to reassure our loyal customers that Good Hope Meat Hyper remains committed to sourcing safe, Halaal, and high-quality meat...,’’ it said via social media platforms.

‘’We urge our customers to shop responsibly during this period and understand that availability may be limited and prices may fluctuate due to reduced supply. We appreciate your patience and continued support as the industry navigates this challenge. Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available,’’ it added.

Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, last week said  the process of procuring vaccines through Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has started, and the next batch of vaccines are expected to be delivered by mid-June.This as the disease management areas in KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga is soon to be lifted and an urgent order has been placed for much-needed vaccines to the value of R72 million.

“This marks a crucial step forward in the department’s vaccination strategy. The department has provisionally costed the vaccine requirements for the 2025/2026 financial year at R1,2 billion, with each vaccine estimated at R100 per dose,” Steenhuisen said.

The Minister highlighted that the lifting of the current disease management areas (DMA) in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo is imminent. Two rounds of vaccination saw 23 024 vaccinations administered on cattle across 34 dip tanks, proving highly effective in bringing the outbreak under control.

“These positive developments highlight the effectiveness of our collaborative control measures, and the dedication of all stakeholders involved. The department remains vigilant and committed to implementing proactive strategies to safeguard animal health and the agricultural sector,” said the Minister.

The Minister noted that an outbreak at a feedlot and adjacent farm were found to be positive in the West Rand Municipality. Initially, the outbreak was linked to an auction in Heidelberg, however follow-up epidemiological investigation indicated a different infection source.

“Veterinary services are testing adjacent premises and linked locations to determine the origin of this outbreak and possible spread.”

Additional cases were detected in communal cattle in the East Rand in May 2025. Samples were collected and FMD infection was confirmed. Epidemiological investigations have commenced to identify and test all adjacent and linked locations.

Steenhuisen announced that the People’s Republic of China has suspended imports of cloven-hoofed animals and related products from South Africa due to the spread of the outbreaks in KZN to Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

He has also urged livestock owners and traders to take note of the incubation period of FMD of up to 14 days, during which animals can appear clinically healthy, before they start showing clinical signs generally associated with FMD.

“It is crucial that newly bought animals are kept separate from the resident herd for at least 28 days, even if a health attestation was issued for the animals. The health attestation and 28-day separation have been a legal requirement since October 2022.”

Done by: Mitchum George