Cattle at Sparta Beef's Alma farm test positive for Foot and Mouth Disease

Sparta Beef confirmed on Tuesday that cattle on their Alma farm in the Clocolan district in the Free State have tested positive for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

This follows Sparta Beef confirming a fraud probe last week due to cattle from the Western Cape being delivered at Alma farm in the Clocolan district having met all the biosecurity documents and documents that cattle had been examined (mouthed) by a veterinarian and were found to be healthy, but upon arrival had signs of FMD.

Sparta Beef previously said that the State Veterinarian was called, and he shared his concern about the findings, and samples were taken.

Sparta Beef said that they confirmed that laboratory test results received from samples taken at their cattle feed facility in Marquard on Friday, November 7, 2025, have tested positive for the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis.

“Following confirmation of the positive results, immediate steps were taken in accordance with national veterinary protocols. Vaccinations of all cattle at the Marquard facility began immediately and are currently taking place under the supervision of the Free State Veterinary Services.”

Sparta Beef added that further samples taken at Sparta's Alma farm, located in Clocolan district, also tested positive for the FMD virus.

“All the cattle on this farm have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, Sparta continues to work closely with government authorities, business organisations, and other stakeholders to effectively limit the outbreak and protect the health of South African livestock.”

Department of Agriculture spokesperson, Moses Rannditsheni, said that the farm has already been placed under quarantine, and the necessary epidemiological investigations are underway.

“Vaccination of cattle is done under State Veterinary supervision. Animals that are vaccinated should be identifiable. With the current animal disease situation, farmers that would like to move animals should notify their state veterinary services who should examine the animals to ensure that they are not sick. In addition, the animals should be kept in isolation for at least 28 days before they are moved.”

Rannditsheni added that animal identification, traceability, and movement control should by right be done by the government to ensure that proper movement permits are also issued. “The system established by the government should be able to talk to all other systems that have been established."

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