Botswana, a major beef exporter to the European Union, plans to slaughter about 10,000 cattle to try to contain the foot and mouth disease outbreak, the deputy agriculture minister said on Monday.
“The number of infected livestock is constantly on the rise,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Molebatsi Molebatsi told French news agency France-Presse (AFP), announcing the decision to slaughter 9,757 cattle.
The first major outbreak in two years forced the South African country on August 24 to suspend all beef exports, about half of which, equivalent to 9,000 tons per year, are destined for the European Union.
Foot and mouth disease is a serious and highly contagious viral disease of livestock.
According to AFP, Botswana has an agreement with the European Union that allows duty-free exports to Europe and eliminates the quota mechanism.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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