Foot-and-mouth disease remained an important national concern during June, with further outbreaks reported in the Eastern Cape, southern Free State and Northern Cape. Although this continued to dominate disease discussions, several unusual seasonal disease trends were also reported.

Blue tick numbers remained unexpectedly high well into winter, resulting in continued reports of African redwater, Asiatic redwater, anaplasmosis and heartwater in endemic areas. 

The unusually late survival of adult female ticks is expected to increase spring larval numbers, making strategic spring tick control particularly important. If this early season tick population is not effectively contained, it will present a major challenge later in the season.

Pneumonia remained one of the most important disease challenges in both sheep and cattle. Continued fluctuations in temperature and winter weather conditions are expected to maintain disease pressure throughout July.

In cattle, veterinarians reported increasing numbers of abortions requiring investigation, together with an unusually high number of difficult calvings. In sheep, internal parasites remained the leading disease problem, while increasing reports of coccidiosis and sheep abscesses highlighted the importance of accurate diagnosis and long-term disease prevention.

This month’s report focuses on abortion investigations, difficult calvings, sheep abscesses and strategic spring tick planning.