Beef exports to SA fall 6%

… As new revised import conditions begin to sour

By Hilary Mare
FOLLOWING the impasses and subsequent imposition of restrictions on the weaner market by South African feedlot authorities, statistics show that live export of cattle to South Africa reduced from 100 332 in 2015 to 94 291 cattle units in 2016, showing a decrease of six percent.
In an inquiry, the Meat Board affirmed that the drought coupled with new revised RSA import conditions would continue to adversely affect the industry as the year proceeds.
“The combined impact of the drought as well as that of the new import conditions might put the cattle sector at large at a disadvantage.
“The new revised South Africa import conditions are anticipated to have an impact of the live cattle export in a negative manner as South Africa is the market for the Namibian weaners,” the Meat Board stated.
The South African Directorate of Animal Health announced new conditions/ requirements for the import of Livestock from Namibia to South Africa in their Government Gazette on June 10. These conditions, applied as from July 1, require extensive testing before any animals can be exported.
The Meat Board committed itself to assist the Directorate Veterinary Services to make the export of livestock easier from July 1.
“The hope remains that the less strict Veterinary Health Certificate, together with the Standard Operating Procedures, will soon be successfully negotiated between the South African importers and the South African Directorate of Animal Health,” added the authority. Restrictions on small stock
In the revised conditions, small stock must be moved into an isolation camp for the period of preparation for export. Secondly, Individual identification of small stock is required by means of an ear tag with a unique number for each animal. As per agreement between the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Meat Board of Namibia, these ear tags will be purchased and disseminated by the Meat Board. These specific ear tags will initially only be applicable to animals that will be exported. The small stock will thus have to receive these specific identification ear tags when they are moved into the isolation camp.
Further, a list of the ear tag numbers should accompany the animals to their end destination, small stock should come from a farm that is certified free from Brucella Mellitensis OR each animal in the group that will be exported must be tested within 30 days before export, sheep rams for breeding purposes must be tested for Brucella Ovis within 30 days before export, sheep should be treated against sheep scab during the period of preparation for export, small stock should be treated against internal and external parasites 72 hours before export and loading of small stock for export may only be done under veterinary supervision.
As far as cattle is concerned cattle herds should be declared clinically free from Infectious Bovine Rhino-Tracheitis / Infectious Pustular Vulvo-vaginitis (IBR/ IPV) and must be vaccinated against IBR more than 30 days, but not more than six months before export with an inactive/dead vaccine. Secondly, the entire cattle herd should test negative for Bovine Brucella and TB for 12 months prior to export while cattle should be kept in an isolation camp before export and a list of ear tags should accompany the cattle to the final destination.
Each head of cattle exported should test negative for Brucella Abortus and TB within 30 days before export. Only heifers younger than 18 months that were vaccinated against Brucella between the age of four months and eight months do not need to be tested.
Further bulls for breeding purposes should be tested for Trichomonas and Vibriosis, anthrax vaccines should be up to date (applied within 12 months prior to export), cattle should be treated against internal and external parasites 72 hours before export and lastly the loading of cattle may only be done under veterinary supervision. Proof of all vaccinations and treatment is needed for the veterinary officials in order to certify the export permit.

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