Mbabane – The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a partial relaxation of livestock movement controls as the country continues to manage an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).
The new directive allows for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs specifically for slaughter and feedlot purposes. However, the Hhohho region remains under a strict lockdown due to active infections, with case-by-case exceptions limited to Lobamba and specific areas in Mbabane.
Under the revised protocols, animals intended for slaughter must undergo professional inspection within seven days of movement. Once owners obtain the necessary health certificates and sub-regional permits, they have a 48-hour window to complete the transfer. To prevent further spread, the ministry has mandated that animals from “Red Zones” can only be slaughtered at abattoirs within those same zones, while “Clean Zone” livestock are restricted to clean-zone facilities.
Feedlot operations are also resuming under controlled conditions. Animals entering these facilities must stay for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three. Before any livestock are moved, feedlot owners are required to secure a “No Objection Permit” from the destination’s sub-regional veterinary office.
Breeding movements remain more restricted, permitted only on a “like-to-like” basis within the same sub-region to match vaccination statuses. Inter-sub-regional breeding is currently restricted to fully vaccinated areas with no clinical cases, including Hluti, Lavumisa, Lubuli, and select dip tanks in Sithobela, Siphofaneni, and Mbulungwane.
The ministry has emphasized that all consignments must be officially sealed and accompanied by stamped health certificates and checkpoint reports. These measures follow a nationwide vaccination campaign that has seen over 300,000 cattle treated across the Shiselweni, Manzini, and Lubombo regions.
Discussion about this post