Photo: Jeanne van der Merwe
The Western Cape is one of only two provinces in the country that have not experienced foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks, but organisers of large agricultural events in the province still take the threat extremely seriously.
This year’s Nampo Cape, which runs from 10 to 13 September, marks the return of the BKB Merino Classic and will feature a number of breed exhibitions, with between 350 and 400 ruminants expected at Bredasdorp Park.
Henk Aggenbach, chairperson of Bredasdorp Park, told Farmer’s Weekly that a special biosecurity protocol was drawn up for the event by two veterinarians, namely Dr Christi Kloppers, state veterinarian based in Swellendam; and Dr Hensie Lategan, veterinary surgeon at the Bredasdorp Animal Clinic. He added that preparations had been ongoing since March.
“The protocol complies with the latest legislation and regulations published in the Government Gazette and stipulates that an animal must not be moved for at least 28 days before they are transported [to Bredasdorp Park].
“Three days before the animals are transported, they are examined by a veterinarian to confirm they are disease-free. Once [the animals] arrive here, they are once again examined for any symptoms of FMD. Sworn affidavits attesting to all these requirements are provided to the organisers upon arrival,” Aggenbach explained.
“Upon departure after the event, the animals are once again examined, and a travel document is issued declaring they are travelling directly to their place of origin. Once they are back on the farm, they may not be transported anywhere else for another 28 days.”
He added that all vehicles carrying livestock were also disinfected upon arrival at Nampo Cape. In addition, special arrangements were made for animals used in the youth show.
“We arranged with the schools that no animals in the youth show at Nampo will be involved in other youth shows held during the past month or the coming month, or the South African championships, so that our event doesn’t affect other youth shows. Participants will share local animals among one another.
Aggenbach said another important preventative measure was the fact that Nampo Cape would not receive any animals from outside the Western Cape, which meant no animals from an FMD-affected district would be at the event.
Jannie Durr, convenor of sheep exhibitions at the Swartland Show, which took place from 3 to 6 September, said there was considerable administrative work involved with getting so many animals together for a single event.
“A veterinary certificate must accompany all entries, including those for the youth shows. We disinfected the vehicles where they entered the site and where the animals disembarked from the vehicle. We also placed synthetic grass treated with a disinfectant product to make doubly sure they didn’t carry any unwanted organisms [into the event].
“We also plotted a special route over disinfectant matting for all participants and handlers approaching the ring,” he explained.
“The most important step for me, however, was that the show ring and even the seating was disinfected between events, up to six times a day. It is very time-consuming, but I feel we have to do our best to protect the animals and those showing their animals.”
Durr also had a veterinarian on site monitoring animals throughout the day.
He added that strict protocols around veterinary certificates had been in effect since 2024, but at this year’s Swartland Show, the organisers also did away with the touch farm to reduce human-animal contact, and because additional permissions would have been required.
