If a cow is suddenly feverish, off feed, lame, salivating, has mouth or teat sores, or milk production drops sharply, act before you have a diagnosis: separate her where practical, stop unnecessary animal and equipment movement, note the time and signs, and call your veterinarian or local state veterinarian. Do not move animals or milk from a suspected case through the herd as if it were routine. A written response plan lets every worker take the same first steps, instead of waiting for the manager to arrive.
Make the first response unmistakable
Choose in advance who makes the veterinary call, who handles the suspect animal, and who records the case. Keep a simple event log: cow identification, pen or group, onset, temperature if taken, signs observed, recent movements and contacts, milk change, and actions taken. Record apparently healthy herd-mates too, so new cases can be compared by time and location. Biosecurity is not only about keeping disease out; biocontainment limits spread after a problem is already on the farm. A programme should cover animal introductions, wildlife contact, immunisation, sanitation and staff or visitor traffic.
For possible foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), signs can include depression, mouth sores causing reluctance to eat and lameness. The virus can travel on infected animals and products, but also on people, vehicles, tools, gloves, clothing and ropes. Keep visitors and vehicles away from the suspect area, use dedicated equipment and clothing where possible, and avoid carrying contamination between groups. Do not rely on a lack of dramatic signs to dismiss a concern: the disease can spread rapidly, and suspected cases must be reported to the local state veterinarian immediately.
Treat current FMD reporting as a reason to verify, not assume
The Department of Agriculture’s report, as reported by Farmers Weekly on 16 October 2026, listed 2,871 individual FMD outbreaks nationally at 30 September: 1,501 remained open and 1,370 were closed. SAT1 and SAT2 outbreaks continued to affect livestock, particularly in northern and eastern South Africa. The report cautioned that an open outbreak does not necessarily mean active viral circulation; quarantine may remain until formal closure procedures are complete. So do not interpret an outbreak listing as a live-risk map for your farm. Confirm your local status, movement conditions and required actions with the state veterinarian and follow formal quarantine instructions.
SANParks confirmed FMD infection in kudu in Addo, but said this did not establish how the virus arrived or the direction of transmission; the source and any link to other outbreaks remain under investigation. For farms near wildlife interfaces, reduce uncontrolled livestock contact and seek veterinary guidance on movement and biosecurity rather than drawing conclusions about transmission.
Protect the herd while the cause is investigated
Until the veterinarian advises otherwise, keep the suspect animal apart and restrict movements between groups. Avoid bringing in animals or sending your own animals to another property while a serious infectious disease is being assessed. South African dairy biosecurity guidance stresses isolation of new animals, regular testing where appropriate, controlled staff and visitor access, sanitation, and a planned immunisation programme. Apply the farm’s disease-specific vaccination plan with veterinary advice; vaccination is not a substitute for reporting, movement controls or containment.
FMD can spread through excretions and secretions, contaminated buildings or vehicles, food and water, and unpasteurised milk; movement of infected milk should be avoided. Handle suspect milk according to veterinary and processor instructions, and prevent it from entering normal channels. The same reference states that pasteurised milk cannot spread FMD and that dairy products made from pasteurised milk are safe to consume.
Use records to find the pattern
A case may be isolated, or it may be the first visible point in a cluster. Review daily health and production records by group and date, and tell the veterinarian if similar signs appear in cows that shared a pen, milking area, vehicle or handling team. Do not wait for a weekly review if signs are progressing. The aim is not to diagnose from a spreadsheet, but to provide a clear timeline that supports investigation and helps target containment.
Disease control depends on cooperation between producers, veterinarians, government and organised agriculture. Keep contact details for your private veterinarian and local state veterinarian accessible to all shifts, and make sure staff know which signs require an immediate call. A short drill—who isolates, who calls, which gate is closed, and where records are kept—can expose gaps before an outbreak tests the system.
Key points
- Isolate a suspect cow where practical, limit movements and contact the veterinarian or local state veterinarian promptly.
- Record animal ID, onset, signs, group, contacts and actions so emerging cases can be compared accurately.
- For suspected FMD, control people, vehicles, clothing and equipment as well as animal movements; follow formal veterinary and quarantine instructions.
- The latest national figures include open outbreaks, but open status does not necessarily mean active viral circulation.