Horse sickness costs SA
MIDRAND - In spite of the significant international interest in South African horses, currently investment in SA horses falls short of its potential, at approximately R250 million per year.
The main reason is African horse sickness, a vector borne, severe viral infection in horses which results in a high fatality rate, and there is great concern of this disease spreading to importing countries.
Not only has this had an adverse affect on the economy, but has also drastically reduced employment in the racing industry from 100 000, 15 years ago, to 15 000 in 2014.
In 1997, an African horse sickness controlled area, including a small free zone, was established in the Western Cape, enabling horse exports to the European
Union. However, this trade has been disrupted several times due to outbreaks of African horse sickness in the controlled area. To reinstate free zone status, it takes two to three years without outbreaks.
With the recent announcement of the intention of South Africa to bid for the 2024 Olympics, this has placed pressure on the government, and horse industry, to find a solution to the African horse sickness problem, or the Olympic bid will be a non-starter.
Currently SA is losing out on investment amounting to potentially R1 billion per year because of the onerous process of importing horses from South Africa, in particular our highly regarded racehorses and endurance horses.
Recently, under the initiative of Wits Health Consortium and Racing South Africa, a South African horse export workshop was held, which was attended by members of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; local and international veterinary, research and epidemiological experts; racing, sport horse and other equestrian sport industries.
A strategy has been developed following the workshop. Mpho Maja, director of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said, “Currently South Africa experiences problems with both inward and outward movement, with outward presenting the most frustration. South Africa needs to develop a fool-proof export protocol and thereby provide trading partners with assurance that we won’t export African horse sickness.”
