Animal health is increasingly becoming a key issue in South Africa. This year we’ve had cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the beef industry, and African swine fever in the pork industry.

The short week is resulting in reduced activity on the international market this week. In the US topside, rump and striploin prices all increased week-onweek while chuck and brisket prices declined week-on-week.

I am ending this week, not by highlighting an agricultural story that dominated the news headlines – as it is typically the case — but some encouraging developments for the South African beef industry.

South Africa’s North West Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development Department on Friday dispatched a team of veterinarians and animal health technicians to deal with the case of African Swine Fever (ASF) reported in Doornhoek farm near Lichtenburg Town, African Daily Voice has learnt.

African Swine Fever spreads through China.