The Economic Impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease on South African Farmers
Farmers Magazine | 03.02.2026 17:09
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) remains one of the most significant threats to livestockfarming in South Africa. The highly contagious viral disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. While the disease rarely causes death in adult animals, it leads to severe productivity losses, including reduced milk yield, weight loss, and decreased fertility. These losses directly impact farmers’ income, making FMD a major economic concern for the livestock sector.
