Recent Issues

SHEEP FEEDLOTS | DR JARRED MORRIS BVSc MSc (Agric)

April 27, 2024

Introduction Sheep feedlots represent a specialized and efficient system of raising weaner lambs for meat production in an intensive environment. Lambs are placed into feedlot pens, where they are fed a carefully formulated ration to optimize feedlot performance. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass parameters should be measured. Due […]

SAVE THE DATE | FEEDLOT INFORMATION DAY | 19 JULY 2024

April 22, 2024

Ringworm

September 4, 2023

Do your calves have these strange hairless circular spots? It is a ringworm.Are you saying you get worms found in the skin? No, not to worry because ringworm is a fungal infection of the hair and surface layers of the skin. So, is it of much importance? Ringworm causes economic losses by affecting growth rates, especially […]

Lumpy Jaw in Cattle

September 4, 2023

Lumpy jaw is a disease of the jawbone caused by a bacterial infection called Actinomyces bovis. These bacteria form part of the normal flora in the mouth of ruminants. So then how does it cause disease? The bacteria enter the soft tissue of the mouth through open wounds. These wounds can be caused by foreign […]

January 13, 2020

Important facts you should know about FMD

Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) is a controlled animal disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984).

December 12, 2019

Foot and Mouth Disease | FAQ

Here are some questions that people are asking. We have created a FAQ group with DAFF (thanks to Dr. Marietta Bronkhorst for her help):Is there a movement ban on animals?There is no ban on the movement of animals in general, although it is advisable that movements should be restricted and discouraged as far as possible. The Gazette Notice does not prohibit the movement of animals. It prohibits the gathering of cloven hoofed animals, where there are two or more places of origin, and where the intention is to move the animals to two or more destinations, within a time period shorter than 28 days. Are there any restrictions on the movement of animals from one farm to another?The movement of animals between properties falls outside the scope of this Gazette Notice. The requirements that were applicable prior to the issuing of this notice are still applicable. There is no requirement for a government veterinary movement permit to be issued in terms of this Gazette.If movements must take place, it is advised that a health declaration for movement is used, which requires veterinary inspection of the animals to be moved to ascertain that they are not showing clinical signs of Foot and Mouth Disease. This assists the seller and buyer of animals to limit potential spread of disease and subsequent liabilities.How will live sales in the informal trade be regulated?The emphasis must be on self-regulation and buyers must be made aware that they must only buy safe animals. Sellers of infected animals […]

December 9, 2019

Practical application of vaccines under field conditions presented by Dr Angela Buys of Design Biologix | 27 November 2019 | Octavoscene Feedlot Workshop

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December 8, 2019

Joint statement of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the FMD technical task team on the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak Limpopo – 4 December 2019

group of cow in cowshed with beautiful sunset scene

November 19, 2019

Media Statement: Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak – MOLEMOLE DISTRICT – 14 November 2019

Media Statement JOINT STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY 14 November 2019 Progress: Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak – MOLEMOLE DISTRICT On 1 November 2019, veterinary services were alerted to clinical signs suspected to be Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in a herd of cattle on a farm in the Molemole Local Municipality of Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. This farm is located in the previous FMD free zone of South Africa. Samples were collected and FMD was confirmed by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Transboundary Animal Disease Programme. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, pigs (domestic and wild), sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. Signs of disease in animals may include depressed animals, sores in the mouth of animals causing reluctance to eat, and lameness. The disease does not affect humans and it is safe to consume products of cloven-hoofed animals, such as meat and milk. Monitoring Following the outbreak, the farm was quarantined. Currently monitoring of production facilities, feedlots and abattoirs is being conducted in Molemole District and adjacent areas. International trade The Molemole-outbreak is adjacent to the Vhembe-outbreak of January 2019 and thus close monitoring and vigilance in the Limpopo Province enabled rapid detection of the incident. All control measures for the Limpopo Province are still in place. A number of agreements were reached with trade partners to trade in safe commodities following the January outbreak; the department has sought assurances that these agreements still hold. […]

November 6, 2019

Octavoscene | 10th Anniversary

2019 Marks our 10th Anniversary since the business was established in 2009 in September by the former founding Director, Martiens Booysen. Dr Shaun Morris (BVSc (Hons) MSc Agric), a specialist feedlot expert and veterinarian took over from Martiens Booysen in 2018. Dr Shaun Morris | Director Dr Shaun Morris qualified in 1990 as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science. He went on to study further and got his Honours degree in 1993 from the University of Pretoria in Production Animal Medicine. Awarded his MSc from the same University in 1997. Dr Morris started his own consultancy as a feedlot specialist in 2000 and has been working as such ever since. He is a member to the following Organisations: The Academy of Veterinary Consultants in the USA RuVASA (Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa) The American Association of Bovine Practitioners He has recently been invited to join the Production Animal Consultancy Group in the USA. He has contributed to 12 scientifically reviewed publications. Since 2012 has successfully run the Feedlot School at Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, focusing on exposing final year veterinary students to intensive animal medicine He has also been involved in The Dairy School at Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, for final year veterinary science students. We are delighted to have reached this milestone, especially in such a competitive marketplace, and are happy to be able to celebrate with our valued partners, customers and friends from all over in South-Africa. The […]