Minister lifts ban on livestock auctions
Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Thoko
Didiza on Monday lifted the ban on the public auctions of
livestock.
The department announced a national ban in December in the wake of the latest outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Limpopo.
Spokesperson Reggie Ngcobo says that the announcement follows the final report from the task team.
“Minister Thoko Didiza has announced that the blanket ban on gathering animals has now been uplifted, the decision followed after the briefing had with the task team.”
Ngcobo adds that the department is still encouraging livestock owners to rather consider online auctioning.
“We have always encouraged our livestock owners to go for the online auction because the industry is doing well.”
Chairperson of South African Feedlot Association Dewald Olivier says that despite the announcement, guidelines need to be considered when buying livestock animals.
“At this stage, we are happy, even though the minister has advised us to keep on checking health certificates to avoid buying animals without knowing their origins.
“We have put guidelines in place for the livestock auction and, it is important for the smaller farmers to know the guidelines of livestock auction and to understand them.”
The department has also urged farmers to continue to work with veterinary services to monitor foot and mouth disease.