By Leeché Storm, AFGRI Animal Feeds

South Africa’s pig industry is facing one of its most challenging biosecurity landscapes in recent decades. With confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in pigs and the ongoing threat of African swine fever (ASF), producers across the country are being reminded—often at great cost—that biosecurity is no longer optional. It is the cornerstone of survival for pig farming in a high‑risk disease environment.

A changing disease picture

Historically, pigs were regarded as secondary players in South Africa’s FMD story, a disease more commonly associated with cattle and buffalo. That perception has changed. By late 2025, confirmed outbreaks of FMD in pigs were reported in the Free State, North West and KwaZulu‑Natal, with veterinary authorities warning that pigs can act as powerful amplifiers of the virus under intensive production conditions, even though they are not long‑term carriers.

At the same time, ASF remains an ever‑present and arguably more devastating threat. Unlike FMD, ASF has no commercially available vaccine, causes extremely high mortality, and results in immediate quarantine and control measures that often end in total herd losses. South Africa has experienced repeated ASF outbreaks outside the historically legislated ASF controlled area since 2019, affecting provinces such as Gauteng, Free State, North West and the Western Cape, with new cases still being reported in 2025 and early 2026.

Why biosecurity matters more than ever

The combined pressure of FMD and ASF is already being felt throughout the pork value chain. According to the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation (SAPPO), outbreaks of these diseases have led to the culling of tens of thousands of pigs, disruptions in slaughter logistics, and severe constraints on both domestic supply and export opportunities.

For individual farms, a single breach in biosecurity can have devastating consequences. Both FMD and ASF spread efficiently through indirect routes, including contaminated vehicles, clothing, equipment, feed and even food waste. In the case of ASF, the virus can survive for months in pork products and the environment, making lapses such as swill feeding or uncontrolled visitor access particularly dangerous.

Understanding the risk pathways

Effective biosecurity starts with understanding how disease enters a pig unit. In South Africa, the highest‑risk pathways include:

• Animal movements, especially pigs sourced from unknown or informal systems without verified health status.
• Human movements, including staff, contractors, service providers and visitors who may have been in contact with other livestock.
• Vehicles and equipment, particularly livestock transport vehicles and shared tools.
• Feed and waste, including contaminated feed ingredients or the illegal feeding of kitchen waste.
• Wildlife interfaces, such as contact with warthogs or indirect exposure in areas linked to the ASF sylvatic cycle.

Biosecurity in practice: what good looks like

Good biosecurity is not about expensive infrastructure alone—it is about consistent, disciplined behaviour. Core principles include:

Controlled access: Farms should operate on a strict “essential visitors only” basis. Entry points must be clearly defined, with visitor registers, protective clothing, and functional footbaths or hygiene stations in place.

Quarantine and sourcing: All incoming pigs must be quarantined for at least 14 days, with daily health monitoring. Producers are urged to buy only from reputable suppliers with clear traceability and movement documentation, in line with the Animal Diseases Act.

Vehicle and equipment hygiene: Vehicles entering or leaving pig units should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Where possible, loading should take place at perimeter points rather than inside the production area.

Staff awareness: Farm workers are at the frontline of disease prevention. Training on recognising early clinical signs—such as lameness and vesicles in FMD, or sudden deaths and fever in ASF—can dramatically reduce response time and spread.

The role of regulation and reporting

Both FMD and ASF are controlled diseases under South African law, and any suspicion must be reported immediately to state veterinary services. Movement controls, zoning, and disease management areas are legally enforceable tools used to contain outbreaks and protect unaffected regions. While these measures can be economically painful, they are essential for national disease control and the eventual restoration of market access.

Veterinary authorities have also emphasised the importance of accurate record‑keeping and traceability, particularly in relation to auctions and livestock agents, as weaknesses in these systems have been identified as contributors to disease spread.

Looking ahead

South Africa’s pig industry operates in a complex environment where commercial, small‑scale and informal systems coexist. Disease does not respect farm size or production model, and biosecurity gaps anywhere threaten producers everywhere. While progress has been made in refining pig‑specific FMD protocols and improving access to controlled slaughter facilities, the long‑term resilience of the industry depends on universal commitment to biosecurity.

The message is clear: in an era of persistent transboundary animal diseases, biosecurity is no longer a compliance exercise—it is a business strategy. For South African pig farmers, vigilance, discipline and collaboration with veterinary authorities remain the strongest defences against FMD and African swine fever.