More than 29 000 cattle ear-tagged in FMD vaccination drive in uMgungundlovu District

The FMD vaccination drive provided an opportunity for cattle to get ear-tagged in KwaZulu-Natal’s uMgungundlovu District, where state veterinary teams have now completed vaccinations of more than 84 000 animals. By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming The ear-tagging of more than 29 000 cattle represents a major traceability milestone, bringing thousands of previously untagged animals into the formal animal identification system and strengthening South Africa’s ability to manage disease outbreaks, monitor livestock movements and support market access requirements The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that 29 364 cattle were ear-tagged and 84 175 animals were vaccinated across 197 designated dip tanks in the district’s seven local municipalities. The campaign also included 77 commercial farms and forms part of ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). uMgungundlovu is now the fifth district in the province where the vaccination programme has been completed, following successful campaigns in Ugu, Harry Gwala, uMkhanyakude and Zululand districts. Vaccination and Ear-tagging Progress The highest number of vaccinations was recorded in Impendle Local Municipality, where 19 660 cattle were vaccinated and 9 307 animals ear-tagged. Mpofana Local Municipality followed with 16 169 vaccinations and 3 876 ear tags, and Msunduzi recorded 15 802 vaccinations and 4 719 tagged animals. Other municipalities recorded the following figures: uMshwathi: 10 217 vaccinated and 2 557 tagged Richmond: 7 951 vaccinated and 3 527 tagged uMngeni: 7 234 vaccinated and 1 762 tagged Mkhambathini: 7 142 vaccinated and 3 616 tagged Focus Shifts to eThekwini With operations now concluded in the Midlands district, veterinary-led teams are preparing to move eastward into the eThekwini Metropolitan area. Vaccination activities are scheduled to commence on 9 June and continue until 16 June 2026, targeting cattle at 70 dip tanks across the metro.