AGRICULTURE NEWS - The decision by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and members of the livestock industry, to place a temporary ban on all livestock auctions in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West, will have a negative impact on consumers’ pockets this festive season, according to TAU SA. 

The decision was announced after a case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in a herd of cattle on a farm in the Molemole district of Limpopo.

This is the second outbreak this year of the highly contagious viral disease in South Africa, which affects cloven-footed animals, such as cows, pigs and sheep.

“This is a tough blow for the livestock and game farmers in the country, who have already been brought to their knees by the disastrous drought,” said Henk van de Graaf, regional chairperson of TAU SA North.

Graaf said the ban on auctions held serious consequences for consumers, especially with the festive season around the corner. He cautioned consumers to prepare themselves for drastic increases in the price of meat and meat products.

Read the full article here on the Caxton publication, Farmer's Weekly