HERFS/AUTUMN BONUS TYDSKRIF 2026

• chance to enhance their own inherent ability to improve health. 2. Farmmanagement strategies For housed animals, this is a much easier topic than for extensively farmed animals. We have much less control over environmental factors, but there are key areas where we can minimise the risk of unnecessary exposure to pathogens and a higher risk of disease. The main goal is to keep “foreign” pathogens or their carriers off your farm. For “local” diseases, your animals will have the necessary immunity if fed, raised and managed well, but that might not be the case for unknown pathogens to your farm. Animal movement • Just like with humans, diseases and pathogens can be carried over between animals when they encounter each other or their bodily excretion (blood, saliva, afterbirth, dung, airborne, etc.) • We are all well aware of the impact of foot-and-mouth disease, spread by movement of animals on trucks, across roads (walking/roaming). Until we have a national traceability system and vaccinations to manage this disease (and others), we need to limit animal movement on and off our farms by: • Ensuring proper fencing, gates and access control • Not buying in new animals from unknown sources, or unless specific protocols have been followed, like isolation, disinfecting the vehicle, personnel, etc. • Stray animals are a big problem that needs to be managed, reported, and kept off your farm • Where we have regular visits by fellow farmers, feed companies and veterinarian personnel, deliveries, cattle/ sheep trucks, labourers, etc., we need to increase biosecurity measures on people and vehicles Water quality • Water is an important nutrient for animals, supporting multiple physiological processes, as well as a healthy metabolism. It enables the transportation of nutrients around the body and plays an important role in heat management. Meat is largely made up of water (87%). This used to be a given as being pure and clean and free of pathogens, but not anymore. • We see more and more cases where previously good quality water is now contaminated with pollutants, untreated affluent water from water treatment plants, etc, which threatens our biosecurity and increases the risk of disease. • Water, even borehole water, is very often contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides, etc., and needs to be tested and treated accordingly. • Treating water from rivers and dams, which is often the source of drinking water, is not as easy, but testing is crucial to know what we are dealing with and act accordingly. 3. The importance of a robust health strategy A proper health strategy entails knowledge of health risks (relevant diseases) that could affect my enterprise, external biosecurity to keep foreign pathogens off the farm, and an internal biosecurity to keep diseases from spreading in the farm. Knowledge of relevant diseases • It is of utmost importance that we are schooled and educated on all diseases that our animals might be confronted with on the farm, in the region, and nationally, as well as how to prevent them, identify them, and treat them. • It is vital to have a knowledgeable team of advisors (veterinarians, representatives, etc.) that can keep us informed. • De Heus technical advisors are trained by a vet to do the basic surveillance and also have a WhatsApp network with veterinarians to help identify foreign and known symptoms to help manage health issues, especially in remote areas where access to veterinarians is an issue. • It is also important to know the working of all vaccines and medications in terms of incubation periods, cold chain management, and the time of vaccinations. External biosecurity • It is crucial to keep foreign pathogens to which your animals do not have immunity, off your farm. • For this, biosecurity measures and access control are critical. Treating vehicles, trucks, and people as potential carriers are crucial. • When any vehicle enters the farm, it should be disinfected either with a knapsack spray or via a spray race, and as much Herfs/Autumn 2026 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 102