The latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the country poses a major risk to beef production, which is worth about R35 billion a year, and livestock auctions, with an annual turnover of about R85 billion.
The spread of the highly contagious viral disease among cloven-hoofed animals has virtually stopped the export of beef – an industry worth at least R2 billion a year.
Had it not been for the outbreak, growth in the agricultural sector could have been pushed up by up to R12 billion a year, experts say.
Now primary producers have to watch the value of their herds declining.
Red meat industry growth and exports hampered by foot- and- mouth disease | Citypress (news24.com)