One of Namibia's biggest agricultural platforms, the Grootfontein Show, has continued without its traditional livestock exhibitions and auctions following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.

The show officially opened on 23 September, with judging already underway the same day restrictions measures were introduced.

About 100 cattle were at the showgrounds when the veterinary restrictions came into effect, forcing the animals, together with sheep and goats, to be safely returned to their respective farms.

The development brought livestock judging and auctions to an abrupt halt, significantly changing this year's programme.

"Obviously, that had an immediate impact on the show specifically, in the way that all the animals that were being shown, the cattle and the sheep and the goats, had to be removed immediately. So I think the initial reaction was somewhat a shock reaction, but I think since the last 24 or 48 hours, everything has calmed down. I think the Grootfontein community, which is a strongly agricultural-based community, was all aware of the imminent potential for something like this to happen. And I think what is giving us some assuredness is the fact that Namibia is one of the few African countries that are really, I think, equipped with the correct infrastructure and contingency protocols to handle something like this."

He says the Grootfontein veterinary authority acted promptly and professionally by providing a legal and controlled way for the animals to be safely removed from the showgrounds and returned to the farms.

But the cancellation of the livestock activities has also affected farmers who had prepared for the event, including those who were due to participate in a small-stock auction.

"All the people that the farmers that wanted to attend the judging could not. They came to the show, but they could not see the cattle or the small stock on the show again, and they also had a small stock auction scheduled for today, and that had also to be cancelled. And for some farmers, that auction that is cancelled is quite a big loss of income, because they put in a lot of effort to have this show auction, and it's the first in a long time that they tried to have a small stock auction in Grootfontein," explained show organiser Kaspar Gunzel. 

Despite the absence of livestock, the Grootfontein Show continues with its other agricultural exhibitions, trade displays and activities, as the agricultural community navigates the impact of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.