Lesotho is gradually easing restrictions imposed after the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, with livestock farmers now permitted to import breeding rams and other live sheep from South Africa under strict veterinary conditions. This marks one of the first significant steps toward restoring livestock trade.
Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition, Selibe Mochoboroane, announced that the phased reopening of breeding livestock imports follows ongoing discussions between veterinary authorities in Lesotho and South Africa. These engagements aim to resume trade while maintaining stringent disease control measures.
Addressing farmer concerns about cross-border movement of breeding animals, Mochoboroane confirmed that imports have recommenced on a controlled basis, provided farmers meet all veterinary requirements.
“Farmers must comply with import permits, veterinary inspections, and animal health certification before animals can cross the border,” he stated.
He emphasised that South Africa continues to enforce strict biosecurity measures due to active FMD outbreaks in several provinces, making adherence to veterinary regulations crucial.
This reopening is expected to bring relief to livestock farmers who depend on imported breeding stock to enhance flock genetics and productivity. The FMD outbreak had disrupted trade for months.
Following the
detection of FMD, veterinary authorities implemented movement controls and trade restrictions to prevent the virus’s spread. These measures severely impacted livestock production, halted imports of breeding animals, and affected various sectors of the livestock industry, including wool and mohair.
“The outbreak affected farmers severely,” Mochoboroane said. “Production had to be put on hold, some farmers lost their animals, while others could not sell their products because it was not safe to trade products from infected animals.”
He added that the disease also hindered farmers’ efforts to improve herd quality by disrupting the importation of breeding livestock from South
Africa. “Foot-and-Mouth Disease not only affected wool and mohair trade, but also the buying of breeding animals from South Africa. The importation of rams and other livestock was put on hold. The pig industry was also affected, but efforts are underway to allow the sector to continue trading safely,” he explained.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. While it rarely causes high mortality in adult animals, it significantly reduces livestock productivity and often leads to movement and trade restrictions to limit the spread of infection.
Despite the easing of breeding livestock imports, Mochoboroane cautioned that the outbreak has not been eradicated. He urged farmers to continue observing all veterinary
regulations and to report any suspected cases to veterinary officials immediately, rather than attempting self-treatment.
“Farmers should not try to treat animals on their own. They should inform veterinary officials so they can receive the necessary assistance and guidance,” he advised.
Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Paballo Nonyane noted that while the outbreak shows signs of slowing, veterinary authorities are closely monitoring the
situation. “The outbreak is reducing, but it is still active,” she said. “We continue working with other veterinary officers and the national Foot-and-Mouth Disease task team to educate farmers on how to manage the disease and reduce its spread.”
She clarified that while the disease
typically doesn’t cause widespread animal deaths, approximately three to five per cent of infected animals may die, its primary impact is on livestock production and the resulting economic losses for farmers, affecting milk, meat, wool, and mohair yields.
Dr Nonyane urged farmers to promptly notify veterinary officers if animals exhibit symptoms such as excessive salivation, blisters around the mouth, tongue, or feet, lameness, loss of appetite, or sudden declines in production.
She also reminded livestock owners that movement permits remain mandatory for transporting livestock or engaging in animal trade, emphasising that these measures are crucial for preventing new outbreaks.