Livestock feedlot operators in the ||Kharas Region have called for livestock movement to abattoirs and processing meat products outside the Foot and Mouth Disease epicenter to be allowed.

The Karasburg veterinary district remains the epicenter of FMD; however, the entire region remains under lockdown, with trade and movement permitted in only processed meat.

Speaking to NBC News, the feedlot operators argued the FMD restrictions have placed financial pressure on their operations by completely freezing the value chain.

“At least for the past two years my piggery has remained free from bringing in new animals. What does quarantine mean? Could we consider introducing Standard Operation Procedures that feedlot operators can comply with, alongside a special permit to allow livestock to be marketed as soon as possible?. This would help ease the financial pressure and get the local economy moving on again,” explained Vickus Swiegers

The feedlot operators have also raised concerns over the lack of information about FMD restrictions, which are expected to ease and normal operations to resume.

This, they said, left them with uncertainty over the future of their businesses.

“We do not have a definite timeline for when trading and business will resume. When can we expect to resume supplying meat products to the value chain that depends on us? While trading in cooked meat and processed meats is permitted, farmers who rely on monthly livestock sales remain uncertain about when they can resume marketing their animals. The restrictions affect not only livestock farmers but the entire value chain. Our main concern is the uncertainty, as we cannot plan our operations without reliable information and data,” added Jurgen van Lill.

To date, the viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals has since spread across 18 farms in the Karasburg veterinary district.