By Sunday (19/7), 1,032,615 cattle had received the vaccine, placing North West among the country’s leading provinces in implementing the national vaccination programme. The figure represents about 74% of the province’s estimated cattle population, says provincial agriculture and rural development department spokesperson Emelda Setlhako.

The department remains on track to reach 80% coverage by the end of August, a level regarded as important for developing herd immunity. “The North West department of agriculture and rural development has reached a significant milestone in its fight against foot-and-mouth disease, with more than one million animals vaccinated as part of an intensive province-wide campaign.”

The programme aims to protect livestock, contain the outbreak, and restore confidence in the provincial livestock sector. The mass vaccination campaign began in early March as part of the national intervention to limit the spread of the highly contagious disease. Agriculture and rural development MEC Madoda Sambatha praised veterinarians, animal health technicians, and support teams for reaching the milestone across all four districts.

Vaccinating more than one million cattle reflects the commitment and hard work of veterinary teams and moves the province closer to protecting at least 80% of its herd by the end of August, says Sambatha. The department’s longer-term objective is to vaccinate every eligible animal in the province.

Sambatha cautioned that the milestone did not mark the end of the campaign. Sustained work would still be required to control and ultimately eradicate the disease.

“This is not the finish line. It is an important step in a much longer journey towards controlling and eventually eradicating the disease.”

The vaccine from Dollvet in Turkey will be distributed to provinces in the next few days. Photo: Louis Trichardt SPCA

Vaccinated animals will also require a second dose to achieve full protection. Officials and farmers cannot relax once the first vaccination phase has been completed because the entire schedule must be followed, Sambatha says.

Vaccination teams will continue operating in affected and high-risk areas to maximise coverage and protect the provincial herd.

Farmers have been urged to maintain strict biosecurity measures and present all eligible cattle for vaccination. The department says it will continue working with livestock farmers, organised agriculture, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders to protect animal health, the agricultural economy, and the future of North West’s livestock industry.

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