Disease report September 2020 -Summary

BOVINE BRUCELLOSIS – PREVENT A CRISIS, LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
In the September issue of RuVASA’s monthly report on livestock disease trends, the focus is on Bovine Brucellosis and the critical importance of testing and vaccinating animals. The following facts are highlighted:

• According to law all heifers have to be vaccinated between the ages of four and eight months with Brucella strain-19 vaccine or RB-51.
• Brucellosis is a herd disease – if one animal tests positive, the whole herd is handled as positive and all animals have to be tested.
• When buying in animals, demand a vendor declaration.
• Quarantine bought-in animals and have them tested, before allowing them into your herd.
• Have your neighbours tested their animals?
• Are your fences intact?
• Visit the National Animal Health Forum website (www.nahf.co.za), click on info centre, and click on Brucellosis.

To read the disease report and view the disease maps, click HERE.