The agriculture minister just unveiled a massive plan to jab every cow in the country. John Steenhuisen is pushing a total nationwide vaccination of South Africa's cattle herd against foot and mouth disease. The goal is to crush persistent outbreaks that have battered farmers and wrecked export markets. This represents a major policy pivot from localized responses to a full country-wide effort. Officials aim to protect all cloven hoofed animals, with a focus on high-risk provinces first.
The disease, often called FMD, causes severe blisters and lameness in livestock. While not a human health threat, its economic damage is brutal. Outbreaks trigger movement bans and herd culls, costing the sector billions. Over two hundred unresolved...