The FMD crisis gets worse
THE meat industry in South Korea, one of Australia’s top beef export destinations, is facing an unprecedented crisis.
Since South Korea’s first confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on November 29 last year, Seoul has ordered the culling of more than 3.3 million livestock, including about 3.15 million pigs and 150,000 cattle.
Since South Korea’s first confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on November 29 last year, Seoul has ordered the culling of more than 3.3 million livestock, including about 3.15 million pigs and 150,000 cattle.
The country’s pig and cattle herds had numbered 10 million and three million head respectively.
Seoul estimated losses could exceed two trillion won ($1.8 billion).
The emergency funds of provincial governments, which are normally used to quickly respond to floods, typhoons and other natural disasters, are running dry and the national government has been urged to step in.
FMD also reared its ugly head in North Korea, with the secretive Communist countr
y finally admitting it also had the disease on February 10 through the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
While there are no reports of animals being culled and buried, North Korea said 11,165 animals had been infected so far. Of these, 8640 pigs have died along with 15 cattle.
Quarantine authorities had moved to vaccinate animals, but the drugs used had little effect on slowing down the disease, Washington-based Radio Free Asia reported, quoting a North Korean report to the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Most countries around the Korean peninsula suffer from regular FMD outbreaks, making it hard to protect livestock because the virus can be transmitted by people, clothing, shoes, personal belongings and feed.
In addition, South Korea is also battling avian influenza...
... Korea Meat Import Association secretary-general, Bo-Hee Lue, told The Land the FMD crisis had sent domestic pork prices in South Korea sky-high and consumers were worried about the safety of domestic meat... “It’s possible some consumers who bought domestic pork will try buying imported pork ..."
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http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/koreas-fmd-outbreak-hits-crisis-point/2079351.aspx?storypage=0
Source: newsroom - farmingnewsdaily.co.uk