South Africa's ongoing foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is putting pressure on the livestock value chain, with movement controls and tighter animal supplies creating challenges well beyond affected farms. While FMD is not a food safety risk for consumers, its economic effects can reach farmers, processors, retailers and rural communities, while wider supply pressures are also shaping meat availability and prices.
Source: Julissa Pires via
PexelsThe scale of the current outbreak highlights the seriousness of the situation. Open outbreaks increased from 836 in February 2026 to 2,403 by the end of June 2026, with the Free State, North West and Eastern Cape emerging as key hotspots.
At the same time, more than 5.4 million cattle have been vaccinated as part of the national disease-control effort, while recent policy changes have opened the door for greater private-sector participation in vaccine distribution and administration.
For livestock producers, the biggest challenge is often not the disease itself, but the restrictions that follow. Quarantines, movement controls, delayed sales and increased biosecurity requirements can disrupt normal business operations, place pressure on cash flow and create additional costs throughout the livestock value chain.
Feedlots, auctions and abattoirs may also face operational challenges when outbreaks occur in key production regions. However, recent government measures have introduced a more practical, risk-based approach that allows livestock movements, slaughter and marketing activities to continue under controlled conditions, helping to reduce economic disruption while limiting disease spread.
As a result, while the outbreak remains a concern for the industry, South Africa is not currently facing a meat shortage and the livestock value chain continues to operate.
What is driving meat prices?
What about meat prices? The relationship between FMD and meat prices is not straightforward. While the disease can disrupt livestock movements and auctions, meat prices are being influenced by a broader supply squeeze.
Good rainfall over the past two years encouraged farmers to retain breeding stock and rebuild herds, reducing the number of animals entering the market, while lower live cattle imports from Namibia have further tightened supplies. FMD has added to these pressures by restricting animal movements and creating uncertainty in affected areas.
Strengthening disease prevention
Beyond immediate economic concerns, the FMD outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of biodiversity, animal health systems and proactive disease prevention.
Healthy livestock industries depend on strong surveillance systems, effective vaccination programmes, responsible animal movement and good on-farm biosecurity practices. Preventing outbreaks is almost always less costly than managing them after they occur.
