Foot and Mouth Disease
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) in South Africa ha reported that the number of confirmed positive locations since the start of outbreak in January 2019 had risen to 15, with more than 130 points identified with possible links to specific auctions and affected properties. Along with other measures, the South African government has banned livestock auctions to aid in controlling the outbreak. However, this measure puts their farmers and ranchers in an economic crisis. With a strong tie to the South African farming communities, Boer Goat breeders need to be aware of the ban on the exportation of any livestock from South Africa. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences recently offered the first-ever field training for North American private-sector veterinarians and state and federal animal health officials for foot-and-mouth disease. The training included hands-on experience in the diagnosis and investigation of a real outbreak in a foot-and-mouth disease-endemic country. Training covered foot-and-mouth disease pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, laboratory testing, epidemiology, outbreak investigation and biosecurity. It also equipped participants to pass-on the training they receive to others back home after the course. Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe, extremely contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer. While the U.S., Canada and Mexico have not experienced an occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease since 1929, 1952 and 1954, respectively, globally, the disease is endemic in many countries in Asia, the Middle East and large parts of Africa. It also continues to be seen in some parts of Europe along with sporadic outbreaks in South America. “The U.S. livestock industries and animal health officials have been working on U.S. foot-and-mouth disease preparedness plans for many years,” said Elizabeth Parker, DVM, AgriLife Research. “The need for this training is at an all-time high for U.S. veterinarians working with livestock. The recent rapid spread of African swine fever across Asia reminds us of the need to be vigilant and increase our preparedness for foreign animal diseases such as African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease. If the U.S. had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, early detection is key, and our private sector veterinarians will most likely be the boots on the ground to help regulatory animal health officials implement the daily response.” “The return of foot-and-mouth disease to the U.S. is one of the biggest threats to our industry,” said Colin Woodall, chief executive officer for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “It is important that courses like this are used to help educate, train and prepare large animal vets and industry experts to help us respond quickly and decisively.
20 - The Boer Goat
Preparation and prevention are key, and this course will help with both.” The training course showed participants how to safely examine livestock without spreading the disease between farms; how to age lesions and take foot-and-mouth disease diagnostic samples; understand what the U.S. regulations will require; and how to help clients develop a biosecurity plan specific for their operations to minimize the odds of an outbreak on their farm or ranch.
• Live Internet Bidding
2018 JABGA OR S N O P S
• Online Webcast of Auctions • Pre-Bidding and Absentee Bidding • Tag/On Farm Sales • Online Only Auctions Be sure to contact us to book your upcoming auction to be broadcast online!
Aaron Tompkins 336-363-4639 atompkin@vt.edu
