South Africa’s horse export industry is worth about R250 million. However, should the country be allowed to export horses directly to the EU and other destinations, this could easily reach R1 billion, says Adrian Todd, the managing director of the South African Equine Health and Protocols (SAEHP).
After South Africa failed an EU disease-prevention protocol audit in 2013, direct exports were banned, and horses now face an arduous process to reach international destinations. This has not only resulted in the loss of revenue for breeders and exporters, but has had a negative impact on South Africa’s horse industry as a whole, as the country’s horses cannot compete on the global stage.
A GREAT THREAT
The ban on direct exports was put in place in 2013 due to the threat of South African horses taking African horse sickness (AHS) abroad. South Africa has since implemented a world-class disease-prevention protocol, and has thus eliminated the threat of South African horses spreading AHS to other countries, but the EU has yet to audit the new protocol, and thus the ban remains in place, says Todd.
Despite movement control and diminishing the threat of AHS to horses abroad, it remains a great threat to the local horse population. A highly infectious disease, it is caused by the African horse sickness virus (AHSV), and is often fatal.
There are nine serotypes of the AHSV, all of which are endemic to South Africa. Horses, mules, donkeys and zebra are affected. However, horses are the most severely affected.
The AHS season runs from November to May, with the peak season between February and April. The virus is transmitted by the Culicoides midge.
AHS occurs in three main types: the lung form (dunkop), heart form (dikkop), and the mixed type.
この記事は Farmer's Weekly の December 06, 2019 版に掲載されています。
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この記事は Farmer's Weekly の December 06, 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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