South African cattle farmers may soon see relief as government moves to curb the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak that has severely impacted the livestock sector. Authorities have confirmed that one million vaccine doses are expected to arrive by 21 February 2026, with a further five million doses anticipated by March. The intervention comes as the outbreak continues to disrupt farming operations and threaten the broader agricultural economy.
In addition to imported vaccines, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has resumed local vaccine production after years of limited output. Although initial quantities are small, the ARC plans to steadily increase production capacity, with the goal of establishing more consistent weekly manufacturing through 2027. This move is aimed at reducing reliance on imports and strengthening the country’s long-term biosecurity response.
The outbreak has been declared a national disaster, enabling greater coordination and access to emergency resources. However, industry bodies, including the Southern African Agricultural Initiative (SAAI), have criticised government for what they describe as a delayed response. Concerns were raised about bottlenecks in vaccine distribution and restrictions on who could administer the doses during the early stages of the crisis.
Government has since adjusted its approach, allowing private veterinarians to register and assist with vaccine administration under existing animal health legislation. While the expanded rollout is expected to speed up containment efforts, hundreds of outbreaks remain active, and the economic pressure on cattle farmers continues to mount as authorities race to stabilise the sector.