National Emergent Red Meat Producers’ Organisation chairperson Madambi Muvhulawa said some cattle already had heartwater and foot rot infections.

Heartwater, a non-contagious tick-borne disease, affects livestock and some wild animals. Foot rot is a bacterial disease that attacks sheep, goats and cattle’s hooves and cripples the affected animal.

“Some cattle are already suffering from internal parasites, with worms living in the stomach and intestines,” said Muvhulawa, who farms cattle near Louis Trichardt. He urged the department to restore abandoned dipping sites to help farmers who now travel long distances to dip livestock.