Foot-and-Mouth Disease Shuts Botswana Out of the EU Beef Market

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Shuts Botswana Out of the EU Beef Market

Botswana's only EU-listed abattoir sits inside an outbreak zone. Brussels removed the last authorised zones in April, though other markets have reopened.

‘South Africa, please help us!’ – Botswana feedlotters stranded with 6 600 cattle after FMD court loss

Botswana's two largest private feedlotting operations are reeling after the Gaborone High Court dismissed their urgent application to slaughter 6 600 cattle held far beyond their April 2026 finish date. With FMD movement restrictions blocking all markets, J.S. Beef and PrimeFast have spent over P27.8 million (R33.3 million) keeping the stranded animals alive – and their overdraft facilities are nearly exhausted. Now the feedlotters are pleading …

Botswana races to protect beef exports as FMD outbreak shuts EU fresh-beef market – YourBotswana

2 September 2026 Botswana is tightening efforts to contain foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as the outbreak affects access to international beef…