The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has vaccinated more than one million cattle against Foot-and-Mouth Disease – a landmark achievement that puts the province at the forefront of the national drive to protect South Africa’s livestock industry.
According to the department, 1 032 615 cattle had received the vaccine by 19 July 2026, a figure that places North West among the leading provinces implementing the national FMD vaccination programme since the mass campaign began in early March.
On Track for Herd Immunity
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha announced that the province has now reached approximately 74% vaccination coverage of its estimated cattle population – and remains firmly on track to hit its target of 80% by the end of August 2026, the critical threshold for establishing herd immunity.
“Reaching more than one million vaccinated cattle is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the commitment, professionalism, and hard work of our veterinary teams, who have worked tirelessly across all four districts of the province,” Sambatha said. “This milestone brings us closer to our goal of vaccinating at least 80% of the provincial herd by the end of August and, ultimately, every eligible animal in the province.”
A Team Effort Across the Province
The MEC paid warm tribute to the people behind the numbers: veterinary professionals, animal health technicians and support staff who have criss-crossed the province’s four districts since March. He also thanked Veterinary Services, livestock farmers, organised agriculture, industry stakeholders and every individual who has contributed to the campaign’s success.
The scale of the operation is remarkable. Vaccinating over a million animals in under five months has required close coordination between government teams, traditional leaders, farming communities and industry partners – a model of what is possible when a province pulls together behind a common goal.
The Road Ahead
Sambatha was careful to frame the milestone as a foundation rather than a finish line. Once the first round of vaccinations concludes, teams will return to administer a second dose to all vaccinated animals, since full protection depends on completing the vaccination schedule.
“This is not the finish line; it is an important step in a much longer journey towards controlling and eventually eradicating the disease,” he said, urging farmers to keep up strict biosecurity measures and present all eligible animals for vaccination.
Vaccination activities continue in high-risk areas to maximise coverage, with the department reaffirming its commitment to working alongside farmers, organised agriculture and traditional leaders to safeguard animal health and secure the future of the province’s livestock economy.
For a province where cattle are both livelihood and heritage, a million vaccinated animals is more than a statistic – it is a promise kept to farming communities, and a big step towards an FMD-free future.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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