Managing animal health for trade
Author: Dr Mary-Louise Penrith
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Introduction
general livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa have
Livestock commodities (i.e. fresh or frozen meat, fresh
been
eggs and milk, raw hides and any other derivatives that
opportunities. The reasons are many and include poor
have not undergone further processing) including live
infrastructure, poor organisation, and relatively low
animals are traded both nationally and internationally.
numbers of animals, but there is little doubt that
Animal diseases can have an impact on trade at all
endemic animal diseases, most of which do not occur
levels. They can reduce the quantity and quality of
or have been eradicated elsewhere, are a major
animals/commodities available for sale by effects that
constraint for the livestock sector in terms of their
range from catastrophic mortality to erosion of
effects on both production and trade.
unable
to
take
advantage
of
the
those
productivity. The difference in animal disease status
between countries in different geographic areas and
Control of animal diseases to support livestock
stages of industrialization is a limiting factor for trade
production and trade
that excludes many livestock producers in sub-Saharan
Countries
Africa from higher value markets and renders the entire
transboundary diseases like foot and mouth disease
sub-continent uncompetitive in world markets.
have been eradicated are reluctant to trade with
and
trading
blocs
where
the
major
countries where these diseases are endemic for fear of
Background to trade in livestock commodities
reintroducing them. Accordingly, trade standards have
Livestock production is a way of life for many farmers
been developed on behalf of the World Trade
in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular those in areas that
Organization by the World Organisation for Animal
are too arid for large-scale crop production. Although
Health (OIE) for trade in livestock and livestock
much of the production is at subsistence level,
commodities. Because these are largely based on
livestock are seen as an asset that can be traded, and
ensuring that livestock commodities originate from
trade in livestock and livestock commodities is a major
areas free of the disease agent, the greater part of the
income generator for many households. Much of the
African continent is excluded unless a country is able
trade takes place at local level, but in pastoral systems
to create geographic zones that can be certified free of
cattle and other ruminants may be moved to distant
the disease. Recognising that such standards can be
markets along traditional trading routes. An increasing
unfair and contrary to the spirit of the WTO’s Sanitary
demand for meat globally has led to what was named
and Phyto-sanitary Agreement for trade in agricultural
the ‘livestock revolution’, which would give livestock
products, which aims to prevent unfair trade barriers
producers
unprecedented
between member states and makes provision for
opportunities to sell their produce in higher value
equivalence of different ways in which to ensure the
markets and thereby be lifted out of poverty, but in
safety of a commodity, OIE has new standards under
in
poorer
countries
development. However, it is up to the countries most

Web-based modules on high impact diseases
affected by the geographic standards to ensure that the
provide more detail on how individual diseases of
new
importance are managed.
approaches
are
implemented
and
adopted

internationally.
Web-based modules on the various tools used for
The most important disease in terms of trade barriers is
animal health management provide more detail on
foot and mouth disease (FMD). A few countries in
laboratory diagnostics, molecular applications,
Southern Africa have gained access to high value
passive
markets in Europe for their beef by creating and
diseases
maintaining zones that are recognised by OIE as free
animal identification and traceability, disease
from FMD. However, increased outbreaks of FMD over
freedom for countries, zones or compartments, the
the last decade suggest that the integrity of these
use of vaccination, the role of therapeutics and the
zones, in spite of high costs of maintaining them, is no
principles of biosecurity.
longer guaranteed. Additionally, the zones depend to a

and
active
including
surveillance
participatory
for
animal
surveillance,
Web-based modules on zoonotic diseases explore
large extent on veterinary cordon fences that separate
the way those diseases manifest in and spread
wildlife from domestic livestock. The negative effects of
between humans and animals.
these fences on wildlife are increasingly recognised.
The
creation
of
a
number
of

Web-based modules for CPD or degree purposes
transboundary
on emerging and re-emerging diseases discuss
conservation areas, mostly in Southern Africa, which
the drivers that have resulted in ‘new’ diseases,
allow multiple land uses but as far as possible allow
many of which are zoonotic, and the challenges
free movement of wildlife along old migration routes,
that occur when a ‘new’ disease emerges or an
has necessitated a strong focus on finding alternative
old disease assumes new patterns.
ways to manage FMD. At the same time a focus on

Web-based modules on livestock marketing and
improving rural livelihoods and increasing income from
trade provide insight into the challenges posed by
livestock includes efforts to increase access to higher
animal health issues that have to be overcome in
value markets in and outside the region. This will
order to support international trade in livestock
require that animal diseases in general will have to be
and livestock commodities.
managed better to improve food security and selfsufficiency locally and increase competitiveness in
regional and international markets. The approaches will
need to be cost-effective, acceptable to the livestock
producers, environmentally friendly and to deliver
larger numbers of healthier animals. Participation of
livestock producers and other industry stakeholders will
be imperative for control measures to succeed.
Find out more

Web-based modules for degree purposes or CPD
on
issues
that
influence
animal
health
management and the tools for animal health
management are available in which objectives,
approaches, impacts and challenges are explored.