Agriculture
RPO calls for OBP audit─── SABRINA DEAN 22:02 Tue, 31 Mar 2015
Bloemfontein - The Red Meat Producers Organisation (RPO) says although it is relieved at news that Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) has made two million doses of bluetongue vaccine available, it is worried that this might be too little too late.
RPO CEO Gerhard Schutte says the release of these vaccines comes at the end of the summer rainfall season and will not aid stock farmers who have already suffered losses.
Schutte says the national Animal Health Forum, of which the RPO is also a member, has requested the director-general of the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to audit OBP:
'Gerhard Schutte'
He says a big concern is whether or not there will be vaccinations availble by spring 2015. According to Schutte, the red meat industry comprises about 40% emerging farmers who cannot afford to lose livestock due to vaccines not being available at the right time.
Sabrina Dean/OFM
'Gerhard Schutte':
