The approved compartments systems within the pork industry already make it difficult for emerging farmers to trade fairly with big operations.
A Chamdor Meat Packers letter dated 20 August is a clear indication of a need for government to intervene as a matter of urgency before small scales farmers take a nose-dive within the pork industry.
Most of the smallholder farmers will not afford to sell their pigs at auctions due to stricter movements of pigs within surrounding areas.
The African swine fever epidemic has reportedly spread to the Swaniville, Kagiso, Randfontein, and surroundings.
Chamdor Meat Packers said it will only slaughter pigs from registered compartmental pig farms where the necessary bio-security is in place as from August 20.
CMP said it regards the swine fever as very serious and thus it is forcing management to conclude on the above decision.
Producers and farmers from non-compartmental farms or smallholdings who needs to slaughter pigs must supply the abattoir with the necessary blood test, conducted by a private veterinarian before management will consider the slaughtering of the pigs.
It said the abattoir must receive the test results before the pigs are brought to the abattoir.
African swine fever is a fatal animal disease affecting domestic pigs, European Wild boars, Warthogs and Bushpigs.
Provincial veterinary services with the assistance of SAPPO visit every single case confirmed.
Representatives from the SPCA also oversee the visit. All sites which are confirmed are immediately put under quaratine and a course of action proposed. In all cases the owners of affected and direct in-contact pigs involved have agreed to culling the pigs to avoid them suffering and to reduce risk of further spread.
