MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay vaccinating against FMD; fears about Bolivia’s cattle sanitary condition

Almost three quarters of Paraguay’s cattle have been vaccinated against FMD

Paraguay has already vaccinated 74% of its cattle heard against foot and mouth disease FMD, which is considered very positive, but there are lingering doubts about the sanitary situation in Bolivia that remains a threat for Mercosur, the world’s leading exporter of beef.

“By September 3 a total of 8.283.853 head of cattle had been vaccinated against FMD, 74% of the 12 million Paraguayan cattle herd”, said Daniel Rojas head of Paraguay’s National Animal Health Service, Senacasa. The inoculation period extends until September 15.

However Bolivia in the heartland of South America and an associate member of Mercosur remains as a concern because “its sanitary work is deficient and puts the whole Latin American meat market at risk”, added Rojas.

He also mentioned that those still missing the mandatory vaccination program are small farmers, “but so far we’ve had no complaints or claims of refusals to have cattle inoculated”.

Rojas recalled that the fine for not complying with the law is the equivalent of 50 US dollars per head of cattle.

Rojas and the president of the Paraguayan Rural Association, ARP, Nestor Nuñez underlined that Bolivia remains a threat for associate members of Mercosur and for the rest of the continent because “it lacks an animal sanitary policy”.

Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo has talked about the issue with his Bolivian peer Evo Morales on several occasions revealed Rojas.

“President Lugo offered to apply in Bolivia a similar vaccination program which is based on a government and farmers coordination effort, plus sharing all the experience we have accumulated in these years of campaigning to eradicate FMD from Paraguay”, said Rojas.

“It’s essential for the development of livestock and the meat industry in Mercosur that we have a continent free of FMD even if it is with vaccination, since this avoids outbreaks”, added Rojas.

In related news the Paraguayan Rural Association Vice-president German Ruiz said that the target of the farmers’ sector is place to have Paraguay among the world’s four leading beef exporters.

“This year we expect beef sales to be above 850 million US dollars and by 2016 we should be among the top four, if not five top exporters in the world”, said Ruiz. Currently Paraguay is among the top eight beef exporters.