The session, titled ‘Live with it or Beat it?’, will bring together farmers, veterinarians, and agricultural representatives to discuss the ongoing impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on South Africa’s livestock industry.
Panel moderator Paul Hobson, a livestock agent with Hobson & Co in the Eastern Cape, told Farmer’s Weekly that the discussion will give attendees a grounded view of the realities facing the industry.
“This discussion will bring together a range of voices and expertise, giving attendees a clearer understanding of FMD from those working directly on the ground,” he added.
“We want this to be an open and interactive platform where questions are encouraged and real concerns are addressed.”
Panel members
The panel will comprise the following people:
- Angus Williamson, chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO) KwaZulu-Natal and second vice‑chairperson of the national RPO. He is known for speaking out on the need for stronger disease control measures within the red meat industry.
- Brent McNamara, CEO of Agri Eastern Cape.
- Farmers from diverse production systems, including dairy farmer Walter Biggs; beef farmers Justin Stretton and Eugene Osterloh; and Warrick Barnard, who farms game and beef cattle, offering first‑hand insight into how FMD has affected different livestock enterprises.
- Private veterinarian Dr Leon de Bruyn, who has held leadership positions within the South African veterinary profession, including president of the South African Veterinary Association, bringing expert animal health and disease management perspectives to the panel.
- Donald Knott of Virbac, the global animal health company that develops vaccines and pharmaceuticals used in livestock disease control, offering a strategic view on animal health products and disease prevention.
- Murray Hobson, a livestock agent at Hobson & Co, who will bring insight into how FMD has affected livestock agents and to what extent.
Hobson said discussion will aim to channel honest conversations about the challenges of FMD on the ground.
“From the scale of the outbreak to its impact on farmers, veterinarians, and the broader agriculture sector, the session will give a real, unfiltered view of what’s happening on the ground and what it means for communities and the industry moving forward,” he explained.
The show’s president, Anne White, said in a statement that the event has adapted creatively to FMD restrictions, focusing on fat-stock competitions and online auctions, while still providing farmers and visitors with educational opportunities like this panel to understand critical industry challenges.
