Botswana’s beef sector is facing renewed pressure after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination and Training Centre, a key node in the country’s livestock genetics programme.
The Department of Veterinary Services confirmed that 34 bulls have tested positive at the facility, which houses breeding stock used for semen collection. Coordinator Odireleng Thololwane said the infected animals are part of a group of 65 bulls dedicated to semen production, underscoring the potential implications for breeding operations.
Authorities have quarantined the affected animals and vaccinated them to contain the outbreak. Surveillance has been intensified around the centre, with no additional cases reported so far, according to officials.
Still, the incident has unsettled producers and raised questions about biosecurity at one of Botswana’s most strategically important livestock facilities. The Ramatlabama centre, which accommodates more than 200 animals, including imports from the United States and Australia, serves as both a genetic reservoir and a training hub for artificial insemination.
The outbreak comes against the backdrop of significant public investment aimed at improving herd quality. Government spent about P25 million to procure 162 high-grade cattle from Texas, with additional logistics costs exceeding P8.6 million. The animals form part of a broader plan to position the facility as a centre of excellence and a source of export-quality semen.
Botswana National Beef Producers Union spokesperson Andrew Seeletso said the outbreak was unexpected, given the facility’s status. He called for a thorough investigation into how the virus entered the centre, warning that lapses could undermine confidence in the country’s beef value chain.
The government has promoted genetic upgrading as central to boosting productivity. An FMD disruption at a core breeding facility risks slowing that effort and complicating disease-control efforts in a sector already exposed to periodic trade restrictions.