South African livestock producers gain direct access to foot-and-mouth disease vaccines via new platform

Red Meat Industry Services launches a new ordering platform allowing South African livestock producers to purchase foot-and-mouth disease vaccines through veterinarians, supplementing government supply with more reliable access.

South African livestock producers can now place foot-and-mouth disease vaccine orders through veterinarians after Red Meat Industry Services opened its ordering platform for producer-funded purchases.

The move comes after RMIS said on 7 August it had secured another 4.5 million doses of Biogénesis Bagó vaccine, with the first 2 million due in the country within 10 days. It follows the rollout of more than 2.5 million doses over the previous two months, bought by the Department of Agriculture and channelled into the industry’s distribution system.

According to RMIS, the new scheme is designed to sit alongside, rather than supplant, the state vaccination programme. Dewald Olivier, RMIS chief executive, said the extra supply would give producers a more dependable route to quality vaccine and better protection for herds.

All orders must go through a veterinarian, and both the practice and producer need valid Global Location Numbers. RMIS said more than 117 veterinarians have already used the portal and the platform is linked to its traceability system, which tracks orders through to delivery.

The vaccine is priced at R46 a dose, excluding VAT, including delivery to the practice. It is sold only in bottles of 60 doses. RMIS says it takes no margin on the product, while R1 a dose goes to the veterinary practice.