China beef exports on holdNamibia’s beef exports to China have been suspended for a year because of outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in cattle since June. Lumpy skin outbreaks at Gobabis, Okakarara 0 Exports of Namibian beef to China are hanging in the balance because of outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in certain parts of Namibia. Namibia, which last year announced that it was the only country in Africa allowed to export beef to China, which included bone-in beef, will not be allowed to export any beef products to China for at least 12 months.
Under the agreement signed between Namibia and China it was agreed that beef exports must come from areas south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence that are free of diseases including contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (lung sickness), lumpy skin disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.
State veterinarian Frank Chitate yesterday confirmed at the Livestock Producers Organisation congress that the first outbreak of lumpy skin disease was detected in June this year.
He said the disease was detected at Gobabis and Okakarara. There have been 11 cases reported and one death. Farmers in the affected areas were advised to vaccinate their cattle.
According to Chitate, although the ministry tried to negotiate with China that this disease should not form part of the agreement, “China stuck to their guns”.
“But we believe it should not affect exports,” he said.
Goliath Tujendapi of the Meat Board of Namibia said lumpy skin disease regularly occurs in Namibia and should not have formed part of the export agreement with China.
He pointed out that because it was included in the agreement it effectively means an export suspension of 12 months.
“As we speak now we cannot export to China due to the outbreaks of lumpy skin disease.”
It was recently announced that Meatco finally received approval from China to start beef exports to that country, following negotiations on the types of meat that can be exported, market trends and the storage requirements for shipping to Asia.
Lumpy skin disease is commonly found in cattle. It is an infectious viral disease transmitted by direct contact with infected animals or mainly if animals are bitten by bloodsucking insects such as flies and mosquitoes. That is why the disease commonly occurs in the wet season or around water points.
Farmers can easily spot the disease by the obvious lumps or nodules (big pimples) that appear under the skin, especially around the face, neck, under the abdomen, on the legs or around the genital area and udder. The lumps are hard and are normally of the same size. Many of the lumps become sores and sometime get infected and can become wounds. The lumps later on form scabs which may persist for months and leaves scars when healthy.
Another prominent sign that occurs is a high fever, which can go down in a couple of days but can go up again. This is followed by drooling of saliva and discharges from the eyes and nose. The cattle become weak and stop eating, resulting in rapid weight loss.
There is no specific treatment for the disease.
ELLANIE SMIT