This document summarizes a study on goat movements within South Africa's foot-and-mouth disease protection zone. The study found that 22% of respondents moved new goats into their holdings in the past year, while 56% moved goats out. Focus group discussions identified four locations in the suspended FMD-free zone linked to goat movements from the study area. Many respondents were unaware they needed veterinary permits for animal movements. The findings suggest goats are moved without permits into the FMD-free zone, potentially spreading the virus. The information will help improve disease surveillance and vaccination programs in the FMD protection zone.

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David Lazarus
University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science
Department of Production Animal Studies
Onderstepoort, South Africa
Goat movements within the foot-and-mouth
disease protection zone of South Africa

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Introduction
 Goats are the most common livestock kept by
smallholder communal farmers in South Africa
 However, clinical signs of FMD in goats are
inapparent and mild
 Goats affected by FMD do not usually show
obvious sickness behaviors
 Thus, they can be “silent shedders” of the virus
 FMD is primarily transmitted through direct
contacts via inhalation
 Livestock movement is one of the most important
ways of spreading infectious disease between
holdings
 Movements of sub-clinically infected livestock can
pose a threat to animals in FMD-free parts of the
country

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Materials and methods
 Cross-sectional survey using semi-structured questionnaire
 Focus group discussion employing participatory mapping
 Information on animal movements, origin and destinations of animal movements were collected
 Origin and destination were described as “nodes” and connected movements described as “ties”
 GPS coordinates of the locations were recorded
 Data were analysed descriptively and using social network analysis tools to identify FMD high-risk areas
 Information from this study will be used to improve disease surveillance and strategic vaccination
programme within the FMD protection zone of South Africa

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Results and Discussion
 Data were collected from 116 questionnaires and
13 focus group discussions
 Overall, 22% (95%CI: 16-31) of respondents moved
new animals into their holdings during the previous 12
months
 56% (95%CI: 47-65) of respondents moved animals
out of their holdings during the previous 12 months
 134 participants attended the focus group discussions
 More movement out of holdings among respondents
 Four locations in the (currently suspended) FMD-free
zone had links with goat movements from the area
 60% (95%CI: 51-69) of respondents were unaware of
the need to obtain official veterinary movement permits
 Goats are moved without movement permits to the
FMD-free zone of the country

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