DISEASE RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVE FOR BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer) IN

SOUTH AFRICA
Draft Number 20 (2002/09/19)

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BUFFALO IN SOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION
African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are large gregarious bovids, which at one time ranged
across all but the driest parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Their numbers and distribution have
been greatly reduced in the past century by habitat loss, the great rinderpest pandemic and
non-sustainable hunting pressure. Buffalo are ecologically important because they are bulk
grazers, which occur in large herds. Through short-term, mass grazing pressure, these herds
are capable of opening up tall rank grass cover, to the benefit of other species which are more
elective or short grass feeders. Buffalo are also important from the eco-tourism point of
view, being a member of Africas charismatic big five, which are much sort after for
viewing, photography and hunting.
Unfortunately, buffalo play a major role in the maintenance and transmission of foot-andmouth disease (FMD) and Corridor disease (CD) in South Africa, where approximately 80%
of the total buffalo population are permanent carriers of one or both diseases. Buffalo herds
in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and Hluhluwe / Umfolozi Park (HUP) have also become
infected with bovine tuberculosis (BTB), which was probably introduced onto the African
continent with infected cattle during the colonial era. BTB in cattle has virtually been
eradicated in South Africa, as the result of an official eradication scheme, and re-infection of
cattle populations from these sylvatic reservoirs will constitute a major set-back. Bovine
brucellosis (CA) is another cattle disease where buffalo might play a role in re-infecting the
cattle population.
From an economic point of view FMD is the most important disease and any outbreak
outside the controlled area may have detrimental effects on the livestock industry including
the exports of animals, animal products and other agricultural products.
Corridor disease, TB and CA may also have serious repercussions for our livestock based
agricultural sector due to mortalities or erosive disease. TB and CA are also zoonoses, and
pose a public health risk.
Risk factors include the presence or movement of diseased buffalo, close contact between
diseased buffalo and cattle or clean buffalo, and the presence of intermediate host vectors
(ticks) in the case of CD.
It is therefore incumbent on the Directorate of Animal Health to maintain strict control of all
buffalo movements within the country, in order to prevent outbreaks of these diseases in our
livestock industry. Regular disease surveys in our buffalo populations are also important as
far as National and Provincial disease control is concerned. All buffalo farms and breeding
projects must be registered with the National Director of Animal Health.
In future, all buffalo movements, irrespective of the buffaloes disease status, will be
controlled by red cross movement permit, after appropriate disease testing. The buffalo
disease-testing schedule, prior to movement, is included below (see 3,1).
A Buffalo Advisory Committee (BAC) made up of experienced veterinarians, will review the
National buffalo policy and developments in the buffalo industry on a regular basis, and
advise and assist National and Provincial Veterinary authorities with regards to buffalo
related issues and problems. This Buffalo Advisory Committee will also be responsible for

the evaluation of applications and recommendation of registration of disease free breeding

projects.

1.

CLASSIFICATION OF BUFFALO
For control purposes, buffalo in South Africa are divided into three groups according
to their disease status:
FMD carrier buffalo are those buffalo populations found in the greater Kruger
National Park and on registered buffalo farms in the adjacent FMD infected zone.
These buffalo are carriers of FMD and Corridor disease and are also infected or
potentially infected with bovine TB and CA.
Corridor Disease carrier buffalo are buffalo from the Hluhluwe / Umfolozi, Eastern
Shores, Ndumu and Tembe game reserves as well as those on registered buffalo farms
in the Corridor disease controlled area of KwaZulu-Natal. This category also includes
some of the breeding stock on projects in the vector-free areas of the Northern Cape
and Free State. These buffalo are free of FMD, are carriers of Corridor disease, and
are potentially infected with bovine TB and CA.
FMD/CD free buffalo are those buffalo that are considered free of FMD and
Corridor disease, and may be kept on farms registered for FMD/CD free buffalo. This
category also includes negative tested offspring from disease free breeding projects
.
Registered buffalo farm means a farm registered for the keeping of buffalo in terms
of Regulation 20A of the Animal Diseases Regulations.
Registered buffalo breeding projects, are projects designed to breed disease free
calves from diseased breeding stock. These projects must be registered in accordance
with Annexure 1, which is attached below. The use of infected (FMD, CD, BTB &
CA) breeding stock in these breeding projects must be phased out within ten (10)
years from January 2002. In addition, with immediate effect, no new projects
using CD infected breeding stock will be allowed or registered outside of the CD
control zones.

2.

REGISTRATION OF FARMS / RESERVES FOR THE KEEPING OF

BUFFALO
In terms of Regulation 20A of the Animal Diseases Regulations (G.N. R2026 of 26
September 1986 as amended), any land in the Republic of South Africa on which
buffalo are kept, must be registered for that purpose with the National Director of
Animal Health. Where a new property is to be registered, this must be done prior to
the introduction of buffalo. Application for the registration of farms for the keeping of
buffalo must indicate the disease status of these buffalo.

2.1

Application for the registration of a farm for the keeping of buffalo. See
Annexure 2 for application form

Application by the owner for such registration must be made through the office of the
local State Veterinarian who must inspect and recommend the property for
registration. The property / facility must also be approved for buffalo by the
Provincial Conservation Authority. After recommendation of the property the
application must be sent through the Provincial Veterinary Head Office to the
National Directorate in Pretoria, where the registration will be approved and entered
into the National Buffalo Register. A registration certificate will then be issued to the
owner. The National Directorate will keep the register updated at all times and
inform the Provincial Veterinary Services of all new registrations, cancellations, or
any other changes to the register.
Where local agricultural unions (e.g. Agri Letaba) already have stringent measures in
place for registration of buffalo farms, it is the responsibility of the applicant to
consult the local agricultural union prior to application for approval.
The keeping of FMD carrier buffalo may only be allowed in the greater Kruger
National Park and on farms and reserves registered for that purpose, which are
situated within the adjacent FMD infected zone.
Corridor carrier buffalo may only be allowed on farms/reserves registered for that
purpose within the Corridor controlled area of KwaZulu-Natal, and on registered
projects in the vector-free areas of the Northern Cape and Free State.
No cloven-hoofed livestock may be kept with FMD or CD carrier buffalo.
FMD/CD free buffalo will be allowed on registered farms /reserves outside of the
FMD infected zone and the Corridor controlled area of KwaZulu-Natal. Such
movements are subject to a single test in accordance with the testing schedule (see
paragraph 3 below).
No movement of FMD/CD free buffalo will be allowed to the FMD infected zone and
the Corridor controlled area of KwaZulu-Natal. If however, FMD/CD free buffalo are
moved into the foot and mouth disease surveillance zone, Corridor disease controlled
areas of Mpumalanga and Limpopo or any BTB endemic area (as defined by the
Provincial Veterinary Head Office), they will lose their free status. See Par. 3,3,1,13 .
On registered farms within the FMD surveillance zone, an epidemiologically
significant number of buffalo must be serologically tested annually for FMD and CD
at the owners cost.

2,2

Requirements for the registration of a farm

2,2,1

Requirements of other Authorities

The requirements of the Provincial Nature Conservation authority must be met, and
approval obtained for the keeping of free-range or captive buffalo. It also remains
the responsibility of the owner or applicant to comply with the requirements of other
relevant authorities.

2,2,2

Fencing requirements
A farm/reserve for the keeping of buffalo will only be registered if it is fenced in a
game proof manner appropriate for buffalo.
In the case of farms /reserves which are situated within the FMD or Corridor
disease control areas, the perimeter fence must be electrified on the inside by a
minimum of two electrified wires on double offsets, at a height of 600 mm and
1,200 mm above ground level. A minimum potential difference of 5000 Volts
must energise these electrified wires. It is recommended that when fencebreaking species such as elephant, rhinoceros and giraffe occur on the buffalo
farm or adjacent to it, the fence should be electrified on three levels (600 mm,
1200 mm & 1800 mm) and the potential difference of the electrified wires
must be stepped up to 6000 volts. It may be necessary to electrify the fence on
both sides. The control and maintenance of these fences is the responsibility of
the farm owner.
Farms in the FMD surveillance zone registered for keeping FMD/CD free
buffalo, must be fenced with two game-proof electrified (outside of outer and
inside of inner) fences, at least five meters apart to prevent contact with stray
buffalo, and at least 100 meters away from any land where FMD carrier
buffalo are kept. Both fences are to be controlled and maintained by the
owner.
Farms in the FMD free zone, excluding the Corridor controlled area of
KwaZulu-Natal registered for the keeping of buffalo, must be fenced with a
single game-proof fence.
The local State Veterinarian will consider each application on merit and if he / she is
satisfied that the farm complies with the various conditions for registration, the
registration will be recommended and sent via the Provincial Veterinary Head Office
to the office of the National Directorate, which will then approve and issue a
certificate of registration.

The certificate of registration:

shall be valid only in respect of the land or portion of farm/s specified therein;
shall lapse when buffalo are no longer kept on the farm concerned;
may be withdrawn by the Director if the holder thereof, fails to comply with
any regulation or is convicted of an offence under the Animal Diseases Act,
concerning the registration, keeping or movement of buffalo.
Shall not be transferable to other farms;
May be transferred to a new owner of the registered farm provided he applies
therefore in the manner referred to in 2.1;
May on application of the owner concerned, in the manner referred to in 2.1,
be amended to provide for an extension of the land to which it applies.
Buffalo which are kept on land not registered in terms of this regulations or of which the
registration has been withdrawn by the Director shall be removed from that land or be
destroyed by the owner concerned, within the time frame and in the manner as instructed by
the local State Veterinarian in an order served on the responsible person.

If the owner concerned refuses or fails to remove the animals from the farm the State
Veterinarian may seize the buffalo concerned, in terms of section 17 (1) of the Act, and
dispose of them in a manner determined by the National Director.
Registered free-range buffalo farms do not automatically qualify for registration for diseasefree buffalo breeding projects. (See annexure 1)

2,2,3

Inspection of buffalo farms and buffaloes

The registered buffalo farms and their fences must be inspected at least once a year by
the State Veterinarian. Each State Veterinarian Office will also maintain a register of
annual veterinary inspections of these farms.
If the fence is found not to be functionally sound, a directive to render the fence
functional within a given period of time, must be served on the owner of the farm. In
case of non-compliance, the owner must be prosecuted. If the owner is convicted,
registration may be withdrawn.
Buffalo numbers, decreases, increases and movements, must be audited regularly
against movement permits and permit registers (Regulation 17).
In order to obtain a functional disease-status data base of each buffalo farm, the local
State Veterinarian must be informed timeously of any buffalo hunting, culling, or
hands on manipulation, where the animals may be sampled for disease screening
purposes. All buffalo must be tested for all relevant diseases prior to movement off
the farm (see paragraph 3,1). Furthermore, disease testing of a buffalo herd, or a
percentage thereof, may be ordered by the Provincial Director at any time, if
circumstances demand this action.

MOVEMENT CONTROL OF BUFFALO

3,1

BUFFALO-FREE ZONES

3,2

A buffalo-free zone of at least 100 meters (including FMD buffer zone where
applicable), which separates FMD carrier or CD carrier buffalo from FMD/CD free
buffalo, must be maintained. This includes all relevant international borders (see
2,2,2).
No land within the buffalo-free zone will be registered for the keeping of buffalo.
All buffalo kept in the surveillance zone must be separated from the infected and or
buffer zone and certain international borders by at least three electrified fences of
which the outer two are at least 100 meters apart.

BUFFALO DISEASE TESTING SCHEDULE (Testing of buffalo before

movement)

All buffalo that are to be translocated will be tested for the following diseases:

3,2,1 Known FMD carrier buffalo must be tested for BTB and brucellosis
(they are already positive for FMD and Corridor disease).
3,2,2

Known Corridor carrier buffalo must be tested for FMD, BTB and
brucellosis (they are already positive for Corridor disease).

3,2,3

FMD/CD free buffalo must be tested for FMD, Corridor disease,

BTB and brucellosis.
Outside of CD and FMD control areas, a single negative test will
generally suffice. However, in certain high-risk situations or areas,
multiple testing and quarantine may be required. For FMD this will
include two tests 14 days apart. For CD this will include two tests a
minimum of 30 days apart. In the case of BTB this will include three
tests (Gamma TB and intra-dermal tests) with three-month intervals. In
the case of CA it will be three tests with two-month intervals.

TESTS

For FMD, the blocking ELISA is the standard test for all 3 SATserotypes.
For CD, a panel of tests including smear examination, fluorescent
antibody, PCR and DNA probe are required.
In the case of TB testing, the comparative intra-dermal test is the
golden standard. Outside of BTB endemic areas, the gammainterferon test may be used under direction of the Provincial
Veterinary Head Office. In the BTB endemic areas, three to five
successive negative skin tests three months apart (in quarantine)
are required depending on the status of the source herd, as
determined by the Provincial Veterinary Head Office.
In the case of brucellosis, any serological titre using the standard
complement fixation test (CFT) will be considered a positive
reactor. All SAT titres or Rose Bengal reactions should be treated
with suspicion.

3.2.4 Contingency protocol

If an animal reacts positive to any one of these diseases, the farm/reserve of origin
will be placed under quarantine and disease control measures for the specific
disease(s) will be implemented. See also each disease Contingency plan. Unless the
National Director of Animal Health determines otherwise, the following will apply to
infected farms/reserves.
-

FMD positive reaction to test

All buffalo on the property will be destroyed under veterinary
supervision, OR at the discretion of the Provincial Veterinary Head
Office, the buffalo may be transported to a registered FMD infected
buffalo farm / reserve in the FMD infected zone.
Corridor disease positive reaction test

All positive buffalo on the property must be translocated to a registered

CD farm/reserve or be destroyed under veterinary supervision. The
remaining negative animals must be re-tested twice under quarantine
conditions, starting a minimum of 30 days after the removal of the
positive animals, with a 3 month interval, and under tick-free
conditions, to confirm their negative status. The negative animals must
be moved to a CD free farm.
The farm or used camps must be rested of cattle and buffalo for a
minimum period of 2 years.
TB or CA positive reaction to test
Under free-ranging conditions, if BTB or CA is diagnosed, then the
farm or reserve must be placed under quarantine. Positive animals may
not be moved off the property, but negative animals may be moved at
the Provincial Veterinary Head Offices discretion, after appropriate
re- testing. Testing of all animals and slaughter of positive animals is
recommended.
When dealing with confined buffalo in projects, all positive reactors
will be destroyed under veterinary supervision. All remaining negative
animals must be retested (five consecutive negative tests at appropriate
intervals in the case of BTB and three consecutive negative tests in the
case of CA.).
The carcasses of all positive BTB reactors must be subjected to Post
Mortem examination by a State Veterinarian.

The costs of disease testing will be borne by the State. This however excludes the costs
related to capture, immobilisation and transport of the buffalo. If the farmer is found to
have caused an outbreak through non-compliance or negligence, then all costs will have to
be borne by him.
3,3

BUFFALO MOVEMENT REQUIREMENTS

General Requirements

Movement of buffalo will only be allowed if all prescribed tests are negative. In
terms of Regulation 20 of the Animal Disease Regulations a movement permit is
required for all movement of live buffalo in all Provinces of South Africa. In addition,
buffalo may only be moved to farms / reserves, which are registered for the keeping
of buffalo of similar disease status.
All farms from which buffalo are to be moved / translocated, must have an
appropriate confinement facility for holding, manipulating, testing and identifying the
animals to be moved.
All buffalo, that are to be translocated must be micro-chipped for permanent
identification. Primary microchip transponders must be implanted at or before first
test, high up on the neck behind the left ear, and any secondary microchips must be
implanted between the shoulder blades.
All buffalo confined for testing must also be ear-tagged during the testing period prior
to movement. Tags may be removed during immobilisation for the last qualifying test
prior to movement.
It is the responsibility of the owner to provide the equipment, facility and opportunity
for effective micro-chip reading.

All buffalo being moved to an auction facility must have been subjected to the
required disease screening protocol with negative results. The movement to the
auction facility must be covered by a red-cross permit. Following the auction, these
buffalo may be moved back to the farm of origin, or to a registered buffalo farm or
facility of matching disease status. This movement must also be covered by a red
cross permit.
A veterinary official must be present during all FMD/CD carrier buffalo capture
operations.

3,3,1

Movement Protocol for buffalo

3,3,1,2

All movements must be authorised in writing by the PDVS at both origin and
destination, prior to the movement taking-place.

3,3,1,3

All movements must be by way of a red-cross permit and in sealed trucks. All
buffalo must be micro-chip read by an official at the time of loading. All
buffalo must be free of visible live ticks at the time of loading.

3,3,1,4

The SV at origin, after receiving authorisation for a buffalo movement, will

inform the SV at destination, and they will determine a date for movement.

3,3,1,5

On the date of movement, the SV at origin (or his AHT) will visit the farm,
and after reading and noting the transponder number of each animal, will
count and load the buffalo, seal the truck, and issue the red-cross permit.. The
registration number of the vehicle, both buffalo farms registration numbers
and the seal number must be written on the permit. A list of the micro-chip
numbers must be attached to the permit.

3,3,1,6

The SV at destination must be notified of the estimated time of arrival, the

truck registration number and the seal number.

3,3,1,7

The SV or AHT at destination will receive the animals on arrival, check the
seal number, truck registration number, and the number of animals. If
everything is in order, he will break the seal, offload the buffalo and certify in
writing on the permit that he received the animals on that date and sign it. He
will then inform the SV at origin of the arrival of the animals. Re-reading of
micro-chips may be required at offloading by the PDVS.

3,3,1,8

If the movement did not comply with the stipulated conditions, the animals
will be sent back to the farm of origin under veterinary supervision, in sealed
trucks, after informing the SV at origin.

3,3,1,9

Unless special arrangements are made with the responsible officials, buffalo
movements should take place during acceptable daylight hours, and not over
weekends or public holidays.

3,3,1,10

The movement of FMD carrier buffalo are restricted to the Kruger National
Park and adjacent infected zone.

3,3,1,11

The movement of CD carrier buffalo are restricted to the CD control areas of

KwaZulu-Natal and to registered CD projects.

3,3,1,12

After required testing, FMD/CD-free buffalo may move to any farm registered
for buffalo of this status. Buffalo with FMD/CD-free status will however have
to be re-tested for every subsequent movement, unless the whole group were
subject to official quarantine since arrival.

3,3,1,13

If FMD/CD-free buffalo are moved into the FMD surveillance zone, CD

control area or BTB endemic area, they will lose their free status. Their
disease status will have to be re-confirmed by appropriate multiple testing
before further movements out of these zones or areas can be considered. No
movements of FMD/CD-free buffalo will be allowed into the FMD infected
zone.

ANNEXURE 1
SPECIFIC PROTOCOL AND REQUIREMENTS FOR BREEDING
DISEASE-FREE BUFFALO CALVES IN SOUTH AFRICA.
THIS PROTOCOL, ITS REQUIREMENTS AND ANCILLARY GUIDELINES WILL
BE RE-ASSESSED FROM TIME TO TIME, AS SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE GROW. THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF ANIMAL HEALTH
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THIS PROTOCOL OR ANY OF ITS
REQUIREMENTS, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH PROVINCIAL DIRECTORS,
THE BUFFALO ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ORGANISED AGRICULTURE
(WHERE APPLICABLE), SHOULD SUCH AMENDMENTS BE DEEMED
NECCESSARY. IN SUCH CASES OWNERS OF EXISTING PROJECTS WILL BE
REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT ALL REQUIRED CHANGES AND PERFORM ANY
ADDITIONAL TESTING OF ANIMALS WITHIN THEIR PROJECTS, AS
INSTRUCTED BY THE PDVS OR NDAH, AT THEIR OWN COST.
IF IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST, THESE PROJECTS ARE TERMINATED FOR
ANY REASON, THE STATE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COSTS
INCURRED BY THE OPERATOR OR ANY OF HIS AGENTS.

1)

INTRODUCTION

The breeding of disease-free African buffalo from Lowveld and Kwazulu-Natal bloodlines
for the stocking of other conservation areas in the RSA, is perceived as a priority need,
especially in view of the current Bovine Tuberculosis situation in the existing major buffalo
populations. The ecological importance and ecotourism value of this species should also not
be under-estimated.
1a)

DEFINITIONS

10

Disease Freemeans that the animals have tested negative for foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD), bovine tuberculosis (BTB) (Mycobacterium bovis), bovine brucellosis (CA)
(Brucella abortus bovis) and Corridor disease (CD) (Theileria parva lawrenci),
according to this protocol.
Foot and mouth disease control areas include the lowveld regions of Mpumalanga
and Limpopo Province adjacent to the Kruger National Park and adjoining private
reserves, as well as South Africas international borders as indicated in the Act ( Act
35 of 1984).
The Corridor disease control areas include the lowveld regions of Mpumalanga and
Limpopo Provinces adjacent to the Kruger National Park and adjoining private
reserves, as well as the magisterial districts of Hlabisa, Ingwavuma, Lower Umfolozi,
Mahlabatini, Mtonjaneni, the eastern part of Ngotshe, and Ubombo in Kwazulu /
Natal, and the RSA / Zimbabwe international border as indicated in the Act.
A Corridor disease project is a project designed to breed Corridor disease free
buffalo calves from Theileria parva lawrenci-infected breeding stock, in the CD
control area or in the vector-free areas . The vector-free areas are those areas of South
Africas central and western plateau, including the Northern Cape and Free State,
where no patent vectors for Theileria parva lawrenci occur.
An all in / all out quarantine system, is one where no additional animals may be
brought into, or animals be removed from the quarantined group during the required
quarantine period.
An approved laboratory is a diagnostic facility that has been approved by the National
Director of Animal Health to perform certain of the required diagnostic tests.
Bovine foster mothers are dairy cows that are kept on buffalo calf breeding
establishments to fulfil the role of surrogate mothers, to feed and succour buffalo
calves that are removed from their biological mothers at birth.

With specific regards to bovine tuberculosis:

A BTB-free project is a project where buffalo sourced from BTB infected herds are
progressively cleaned up by a test and slaughter process, (e.g. Phinda project in
KZN)
A BTB-free herd of buffalo or BTB-free facility is a herd or facility in which all
individuals have undergone three consecutive negative tests if sourced from a herd of
unknown status, or five consecutive negative tests if sourced from a known infected
herd. Their offspring are also considered BTB-free after one negative test.
An unknown status herd is a buffalo herd that has never been tested, or in which a
proportion of the herd may have been sampled or examined either through testing or
necropsies, and no positive cases have been identified.
An infected herd is a herd in which bovine tuberculosis has been detected and
confirmed by culture in at least one animal.
A positive BTB animal is an animal that has tested positive on the appropriate blood
based or intradermal tests or in which the disease has been confirmed by culture.
A BTB infected facility is a quarantine facility dedicated to the harvesting of
immediate post partum calves from BTB infected pregnant cows.

2)

ROLE PLAYERS

Provincial veterinary Services (PVS)

11

National Directorate of Animal Health (NDAH)

Provincial Conservation Authority (PCA)
Commercial Operators (including SANParks, KZN Conservation Services,
Mpumalanga Parks Board and private buffalo breeders.)
Buffalo advisory committee (BAC)
Approved diagnostic laboratories.
Veterinarians other than State Veterinarians.
Game capture operators
Organised Agriculture (where applicable).
Animal welfare representatives

3)

FUNCTIONS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ROLE PLAYERS

3a)

PROVINCIAL VETERINARY SERVICES (PVS)

To supply, via the local State Veterinary Office, a professional disease control and
monitoring service within the organizations functional capacity.
To inspect all breeding or holding facilities in the FMD infected zone and CD infected
areas on a fortnightly basis. The buffalo registers must be balanced at each of these visits.
With regards to BTB and Corridor disease projects outside the FMD infected zone or the
CD infected areas, to inspect the breeding and holding facilities at the times of scheduled
disease testing of buffalo.
To make suitably qualified personnel available to execute or supervise all tests,
irrespective as to whether such tests are required, optional or additional.
To receive all test results, to interpret these results and make a diagnosis. The National
and Provincial Director of Veterinary Services will in conjunction have the final say
regarding the evaluation and interpretation of all the diagnostic tests.
The PVD is to approve (by e-mail, fax or letter) any permit for disease free buffalo
calves leaving a registered breeding facility, after completion of the required panel of
tests.
To keep the National Director of Veterinary Services (NVS) informed in writing, of all
major developments and progress, including any disease outbreaks on projects, calves
authorised for release from the control area and results of annual evaluations for reregistration of projects by the BAC.
To issue red cross and /or movement permits for all animals or products entering or
leaving the breeding / quarantine facility, and liaise with the Provincial Veterinary
officials at destination with regards to buffalo shipments, quarantine facilities and
requirements.
To keep accurate records of all test results and movement permits issued. Such records
must include the buffalos sex and permanent identification numbers (brands, eartags and
microchips).
To collect registration fees from commercial operators.
To inform all relevant agricultural organizations of buffalo policy and protocols, and
inform the BAC of any complaints or misgivings voiced by these organizations.
To provide game capture operators, transporters and veterinarians, with appropriate
training and a copy of this protocol.

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3b)

NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF ANIMAL HEALTH (NDAH)

To approve and register the buffalo breeding project, after recommendation by the
Buffalo Advisory Committee and PVS.
To approve this disease testing protocol.
To evaluate and interpret the test results when requested, in conjunction with the
Provincial Directors.

The National Director of Animal Health , in consultation with the PDVS, has the right
to withdraw registration of a facility at any time, if the commercial operator fails to
comply with any requirement or instruction, or contravenes the Animal Diseases Act, or
if the project is deemed unsafe due to disease risks.

3c)

3d)

PROVINCIAL CONSERVATION AGENCIES (PCA)

To evaluate the plans and make recommendations regarding the outlay and structural
aspects of facilities of aspirant commercial operators, - from a human safety and
conservation legislation point of view. These recommendations must be received in
writing prior to commencement of construction.
To issue Provincial Conservation movement permits for buffalo entering or leaving the
facility. This permit must also state that a Veterinary Movement Permit is also a
requirement for any buffalo movement.
COMMERCIAL OPERATORS UNDERTAKINGS AND COMMITMENTS
To at all times, allow access to the facility, records and animals by personnel of the PVS,
NDAH and PCA.
To keep a register of all buffalo present on the facility, with accurate records of origin, ID
numbers (brands, ear tags and microchips) new acquisitions, births, parentage, test results,
treatments, sales and deaths. In the interest of standardization, only the IDENTIPET
microchip system should be used as the primary identification microchip, and should be
implanted on the left side of the neck dorsally behind the left ear. At owners initiative,
secondary microchips of a different brand may be implanted between the shoulder blades.
To regularly (annually) submit complete records of the animals in his/her project to
update the State Veterinarian for record keeping.
To immediately notify the appropriate State Veterinarian of any signs of disease or any
mortalities amongst the buffalo at his facility.
To maintain the structure of the facility to the satisfaction of the PVS and the PCA.
To abide by the State Veterinarians interpretation of the results of all diagnostic tests
done.
Not to move any animals into or out of the facility other than with the approval of the
PVS or NDAH, and under cover of the necessary permits.
Not to hold the Provincial or National Government responsible for any losses or
omissions as pertains to this operation.

13

To ensure that the animals in his/her facility are at all times handled humanely, and have
adequate shade, ventilation, shelter, clean water and food.
To ensure that all wounds, injuries and diseases are treated promptly and appropriately.
To pay for all costs involved with diagnostic testing or clinical services by a State
Veterinarian.
To pay for Provincial and National Veterinary services rendered.
To transport samples for testing to the appropriate laboratory in sealed containers under
permit control, if so instructed by the State Veterinarian.
To enter into a legal contract with the National Director of Veterinary Services for
clarification of responsibility and liability issues.
To pay a pre-determined registration fee and annual maintenance fee (see paragraph 4).

3e)

BUFFALO ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAC)

The Buffalo Committee is a sub-committee of the wider Wildlife Disease Advisory Group of
the Directorate of Veterinary Services.

3f)

The Buffalo Advisory Committee will be composed of a representative group of State

Veterinarians from the Provincial and National Directorates who have extensive field
experience regarding buffalo breeding projects.
This committee will be responsible for recommending and amending buffalo policy.
This committee will be responsible for evaluating applications and recommending the
registration of buffalo breeding facilities / projects to NVS, including annual
evaluation for re-registration.
Members of this committee will be appointed by the National Director of Veterinary
services, with inputs from the Provincial Directors.
This committee must also recommend actions to address problems in individual
projects.

APPROVED DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY

To provide a professional diagnostic service, within the laboratorys functional

capacity, for testing buffalo in these breeding projects.
To provide advice to the Directorate of Veterinary Services, with regards to
interpretation of diagnostic tests, alternative tests and /or disease control. If and where
necessary, international experts may be consulted for their opinions.
To provide electronic or hard copies of test results to the appropriate State
Veterinarians, Provincial and National Director, which must include the State
Veterinarians sample consignment reference number, and animal identification and
microchip numbers as they appear on the submission form and accompanying data
sheet.
Currently, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute is the only approved laboratory with the
capability of performing all of the required diagnostic tests (Buffalo Test Package). Other
laboratories can be used with NDAH approval.

3g)

VETERINARIANS OTHER THAN STATE VETERINARIANS

14

3h)

Suitably trained / experienced veterinarians, may be called upon by the commercial

operator to perform certain clinical functions as well as disease testing procedures (for
certification)
All clinical conditions, diagnoses and treatments must be entered into the buffalo
register, and must be reported to the appropriate State Veterinarian.
All disease testing for breeding projects, including tests for disease status of sourced
breeding stock, must take place in the presence of an official of PVS, who will be
responsible for the identification of the animal, the laboratory data sheet, the
submission form and the sealing of the specimen container.
Such Veterinarians may be called upon, at the commercial operators expense, to
perform necropsies or other diagnostic functions for the State, in the absence of a SV.

GAME CAPTURE OPERATORS

Game capture operators must be registered with the Wildlife Translocation Association of
South Africa, and ensure that:
They conform to all requirements of the PCA as well as the Animal Diseases Act,
including this Protocol.
The farm / project at destination is registered for buffalo of the appropriate disease
status.
Buffalo are handled and transported in a humane manner, and in accordance with
animal welfare guidelines.
All game transport trucks are thoroughly cleaned and then disinfected before
and after each buffalo movement. All old bedding must be removed and the
game compartment must be sprayed for ticks with an effective acaricide.
The game compartment doors structurally lend themselves to official sealing.
3j)

ORGANISED AGRICULTURE

Organised agriculture are entitled to give input with regards to registration of buffalo farms,
particularly when they already have stringent requirements in place for buffalo farming in the
area.
3k)

WELFARE ORGANISATIONS

Welfare guidelines published by the SABS, for the humane handling, transport and housing
of wildlife, should be adhered to as far as possible.

4)

REGISTRATION

For the purpose of this section a project is defined as a disease free buffalo breeding
facility.
Application for registration of a project (Annexure 3) must be sent via the PVS to the
BAC for evaluation. A R500 non-refundable application fee will be levied by the PVS.
All projects, including existing projects, must be approved by the NDAH on the
recommendation of the BAC, before registration or re-registration. For all new projects, a

15

business plan, site- plan and plan for envisaged expansion phases must accompany the
application for approval. Following approval of these plans, and only once the facility has
been constructed to the satisfaction of the PVS and PCA, in consultation with the NDAH,
will it be registered.
With effect from 2002, an initial registration fee of R5000 will be payable to the relevant
PVS, followed by an annual re-registration fee of R100 per adult cow on the register, but
a minimum of R2000.
For FMD infected buffalo, only facilities located in the FMD infected zone will be
considered.
For buffalo only infected with Corridor Disease and / or BTB, only facilities in the
Kwazulu/ Natal CD control area and currently registered projects will qualify. Where
such projects are already registered, current registration details must be submitted
together with the registration fee.
In accordance with section 13 of Act 35 / 1984, the number of buffalo projects that can
be registered may depend on the capacity of the Department.
A farm that is registered for free-ranging buffalo does not automatically qualify for
registration of a disease free buffalo calf-breeding project. Approval and registration of
the project are subject to the same requirements as any other prospective buffalo breeder.
A numbered certificate of registration will be issued by NDAH to the owner of the
project after recommendation by the BAC.
IT MUST BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL BREEDING PROJECTS
USING DISEASED PARENT STOCK MUST BE PHASED OUT OVER THE
NEXT TEN (10) YEARS, STARTING 1 JANUARY, 2002. In addition, and with
immediate effect, no new buffalo projects using infected breeding stock will be
approved outside the FMD and CD control areas of the country. Registered
breeding projects can still receive FMD and CD infected breeding stock, but all these
animals must all be phased out after ten (10) years. Projections indicate that by the
year 2012, there should be adequate disease free breeding stock to cover South
Africas needs.

i)
5)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FACILITIES

5.1 Plans
Plans for each facility must be submitted to the PVS, NVS and PCA for approval. Details
should include: All fences and their structural elements (stating type and height), gates and passages.
Size of enclosures, positions of gates, hay- racks, water troughs, and areas of shade
and shelter.
Loading ramps, water supply and feed stores.
Clearly identify the clean and diseased facilities, and stipulate the number of
animals to be housed in each area.
The facility must be both animal and people friendly, to allow for practical and
humane keeping, handling and monitoring of the animals, as well as easy cleaning,
feeding and watering.
Furthermore, it is recommended (owners risk) that the facilities comply with the
following :

16

In projects making use of FMD infected parent stock, the FMD clean and
diseased facilities must be separated by as great a distance as is possible and
practical during stage 1.
In each quarantine facility in the disease control areas, the width of the exclusion zone
between the boma and perimeter fence may not be less than 5 meters. It is
recommended that all shrubs and bushes be cleared from this exclusion zone, and in
the case of clean (calf) facilities be cleared of all vegetation.
The inner boma fence must be adequately robust to effectively keep the animals
inside.
A separate feed store and water supply must be present for each facility.
Trucks should be cleaned and disinfected, prior to shipping clean calves.
No adult FMD / CD carrier buffalo, free-ranging or confined should be able to come
within 100 meters of any facility containing clean calves during stage 1.
If the facility is sited in an area where fence breaking species such as elephant,
rhino and giraffe occur, then the outside of the perimeter fence must be electrified at a
height of 600, 1200, and 1800mm (using double offsets with live and earth wires). At
all times, these electrified elements must register a potential difference of at least
6000 volts.
In CD projects in the vector-free area, the breeding camp or herd and the clean
progeny quarantine testing camp must be separated by a 5 meter minimum exclusion
zone, and the entire complex must be sited at least 20 meters from the farm boundary
fence if cattle are present on the adjoining farm. Each camp must also have two
interconnected handling kraals to facilitate sampling of animals.
Animal management and welfare guidelines must be adhered to.

5.2 Specific requirements for calf facility at origin (first stage quarantine).

5,3

A single access gate (also electrified) must be present in the perimeter fence of
buffalo calf quarantine facilities, and must be adequate to admit large trucks
transporting hay, animals or waste material. There should be adequate room for the
truck to gain access, and be able to shut the outside gate behind it.
The access gate must be kept locked at all times.
No unauthorized visitors are allowed.
Only dedicated full time workers, who have no contact with domestic cloven-hoofed
livestock outside the facility, should be employed.
Only personnel authorized to work in that particular facility may enter, and they
should be identifiable by overalls of a certain colour. No cross over of personnel
between any two facilities (calves-adults or calves-calves) may take place .
Personnel may be transferred from an infected facility to a clean facility, only
after a decontamination period of four days.
Authorized visitors must wear clean overalls and gumboots.
If the calves are to be dispatched in batches, then the calves to be shipped must be
placed in a separate quarantine for Stage 1 until shipping out of the facility. The
facility is to be an all-inall-out system, and is to be a minimum of 30 meters from
other holding pens / camps.
Calves must be regularly treated with an effective acaricide.
Specific requirements for the adult buffalo facility

17

The boma or camp fence and gates must be strong enough to contain the adult buffalo,
and have a minimum height of 1,8 meters. Sliding gates are preferred. Adult buffalo with
calves in the breeding pens must be treated regularly with an effective acaracide.

5,4 Specific requirements for calf facilities during second, third and fourth stage
quarantine.
Calf quarantine facilities for second and third stage must be located in the surveillance
zone and for fourth stage in the open area. These facilities must be constructed in line
with accepted quarantine practices. Since these calves are relatively small and are already
boma adapted and tame, the robustness of the physical structure is no longer so important,
and the facility may even be of a temporary nature. It must, however, be adequate to
safely and humanely house the calves, and make allowance for regular cleaning and
handling. The basic quarantine requirements remain very important and these include: A box within a box with a minimum distance of 5 meters free of vegetation between the
boma and the perimeter fence of the facility.
Only dedicated full time workers, who have no contact with domestic cloven-hoofed
livestock outside the facility, should be employed.
The following requirements apply to both calf quarantine facilities in the surveillance zone,
and buffalo progeny camps in the CD vector free projects:
A single access gate with controlled access.
All in / all out system with accurate record keeping in a register.
The buffalo calves must be treated on a regular basis with an effective acaricide.
It is important that hay for these animals should be sourced from an area where no CD
infected buffalo occur (to minimise the risk of CD infected ticks), or be autoclaved..

5,5 Specific requirements for BTB infected facilities

BTB infected facilities in pilot studies for harvesting calves from known BTB infected
pregnant cows, may experimentally be allowed under very strict bio-security arrangements .
(Evaluation is pending for this experimental project, which must be coupled to an approved
research project.)
Only BTB infected pregnant cows may enter this facility. All BTB infected buffalo cows in
these facilities must be permanently T branded on the neck. BTB infected facilities must
comply with certain very rigid bio-security requirements. These include:
The facility must be located within the known BTB infected areas outside of the FMD
infected zone.
Only infected cows originating from Kwazulu / Natal may be used in these projects.
An exclusion zone of at least 30 meters between the bomas and the perimeter fence.
Controlled access with a single access gate, which is locked at all times.
Personnel working in the facility, may not work with other susceptible animals, and
should shower on a daily basis before leaving the facility. Employment in this facility
may present occupational disease hazards, which should be minimised by appropriate
precautions. The requirements of the Department of Health and the Occupational Hazards

18

and Safety Act must be followed. All personnel should be screened for TB prior to
employment and undergo regular tests to detect reactor conversion.

Clean overalls must be supplied, and gumboots must be disinfected on a daily basis.
All old feed, bedding and manure must be disposed of in a pit within the confines of the
perimeter fence, and may be burned or covered up at regular intervals.
Water supply, effluent and french drains must be self -contained within the facility.
No unauthorised visitors may enter the facility.
Calves must be removed within 48 hours - preferably at birth.

All BTB infected cows, slaughtered for any reason, must be subjected to a detailed necropsy
by an approved veterinarian for confirmation of diagnosis and extent of disease.
6) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Officials of the PVS are to have access to all facilities and animals at all times.
Compulsory fortnightly inspections, of all buffalo breeding facilities in the FMD
infected zone and surveillance zones are required to inspect the buffalo and balance
the registers.

Once the buffalo calves have been removed from their dams, then separate
registers must be kept for the diseased and clean facilities. These registers must
contain complete records, including the identity numbers (ear tags, brands and microchip numbers) of the animals, their origin, entrance permit number, or birth date plus
dam I.D (calves). If no longer present at the facility, then a record of the removal
permit or death certificate must be noted.
An approved (designated) official from the PVS or NDAH must be present at the
sampling of all animals for all required tests.
All deaths are to be immediately reported to the State Veterinarian, who may request
that a post mortem be carried out by a private vet (at owners expense).
All costs for tests are to be borne by the commercial operator.
All adult breeding stock must be ear tagged with their identity number and microchipped.
All calves are to be micro-chipped and ear tagged before or at their first bleed. (See
paragraph 3d for sites of microchip implants).
It is recommended that all workers in the facilities be tested for human and bovine
tuberculosis, with negative results.
Bedding, feed and manure from facilities with adult buffalo, may leave the facility
after 30 days of composting in an area free of cloven- hoofed animals, - under cover
of a veterinary movement permit.
Any clinical signs of any illness in calves must be immediately reported to the State
Veterinarian.
Any person working with FMD carrier animals may not have contact with FMD
susceptible animals for a period of no less than 4 days after the contact.
Appropriate bio-security measures apply to all persons entering facilities, including
officials.

19

7) TESTING OF ADULT BUFFALO AND FOSTER CATTLE .

a)

BUFFALO PARENT STOCK

Tuberculosis Testing
If pregnant cows and breeding bulls are initially sourced from BTB negative herds, these
adult animals must all be subjected to a negative comparative tuberculin skin test, and
gamma interferon test at capture and a repeat test on release from the facility.
For animals sourced from herds of unknown BTB status, two further BTB tests must be
done at the first opportunity after the required 3- month window following initial and
secondary tuberculin exposure. Only then may they be considered BTB-free, and join a
BTB-free herd. No calves with dams sourced from herds of unknown BTB status, may
leave a project (stage 3) until their dams have undergone three negative tests for BTB.
BTB negative adult buffalo sourced from known BTB- infected herds must be kept under
intensive conditions throughout the year for breeding and calving and must undergo five
(5) negative BTB tests over a fifteen month period. The first qualifying BTB test must be
done a minimum of 3 months post capture. If all buffalo in that group remain negative on
BTB testing over this period, then the group will qualify for BTB negative status.
BTB negative buffalo may only be sourced from known BTB infected herds with a BTB
prevalence of less than 20%.
Under exceptional circumstances, BTB positive pregnant cows may be held for
experimental purposes, to harvest BTB and CD- free calves. Their calves must undergo
five negative BTB tests three months apart, in a separate isolation unit, before they can be
considered negative. The whole facility must be dedicated to these positive animals.
Brucellosis testing

All adult buffalo must also be tested for bovine brucellosis (CF test), and must have a
totally negative titre, since they are unvaccinated. The brucellosis screening must be
expedited as soon as possible after capture, to avoid the potential animal and veterinary
public health consequences of having positive cows aborting or giving birth within the
intensive conditions of the quarantine boma.
All new cows must have undergone at least three negative CA tests, including a 2-12
week post calving test, before their calves will be released and the adult cows obtain CA
negative status. During this period the adults must be quarantined away from the rest of
the herd.
Adult cows that have already qualified for CA negative status must still be tested at least
once a year, 2 12 weeks post calving.
Adult bulls must also be tested once a year.
No brucellosis positive animals may be introduced into BTB positive quarantine facilities
where BTB infected pregnant cows are held.
In the event of a Brucella negative herd suddenly becoming positive, the control of this
herd will be the same as for a cattle herd in a similar situation. This will include testing
every 2-3 months with slaughtering of any positive animals, and monitoring of heifer

20

calves from positive dams until after first parturition. The use of brucella vaccines may
be authorised by PDVS. All results must be forwarded to the BAC

b)

FOSTER MOTHER DAIRY COWS

Foster mother dairy cows must be sourced from tuberculosis and brucellosis- free dairy herds.
Before entry into the facility, all foster cows must be tested for both BTB and CA to confirm
their negative status. Foster cows may also not be vaccinated for FMD, so that they fulfil the
additional role of FMD sentinels. They will also function as CD sentinels. These foster
mother dairy cows must at least be retested for FMD, CD, BTB and CA on an annual basis.
In addition, these dairy cows are in fact honorary buffalo, and may move with the calf
groups betrween the infected and surveillance zone quarantine facilities. They must however
be tested in parallel with the calves for each movement.
8) THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUFFALO BREEDING STOCK INTO BTB
FREE HERDS SUMMARY TABLE

SOURCE
STATUS

BTB FREE
HERD

DEFINITION

This is a herd of buffalo where all

of the buffalo on the farm have
already undergone three
consecutive negative herd tests (If
sourced from a herd of unknown
status ) or five consecutive
negative herd tests (from an
infected herd).
UNKNOWN An unknown status herd is a
STATUS
buffalo herd that has never been
HERD
tested, or in which a proportion of
the herd may have been sampled or
examined either through testing or
necropsies, and no positive cases
have been identified.

INFECTED
HERD

TESTS
REQUIRED
BEFORE
INTRODUCT
ION
One negative
comparative
skin test.

Three
consecutive,
negative tests
three months
apart. The first
and last test
must be a
comparative
skin test
An infected herd is a herd in which Five
bovine tuberculosis has been
consecutive,
detected and confirmed by culture negative
of an animal from the herd
comparative
skin tests, three
months apart.

EXAMPLES

Established disease free

breeding projects which
are run as a closed herd,
have had three
consecutive negative
tests, and introductions
are handled as per
specification.
Buffalo herds in
conservation areas where
sample surveys have been
negative or fenced
registered buffalo farms
where no BTB has ever
been diagnosed.

Herds in conservation
areas or registered buffalo
farms where there has
been a confirmed case of
BTB.

21

No vagrant buffalo (dwaalbuffels) will be allowed to enter a registered buffalo breeding

facility. They must be chased back or translocated to their area of origin, or destroyed.

9)

BREEDING SYSTEMS FOR DISEASE-FREE BUFFALO CALVES

There are currently three basic systems being used to obtain disease free calves. The
operator must indicate which system he will be using when applying for registration of his
project.
The basic systems are:

Type 1 entails removal of the newborn calf from its biological mother at birth, prior
to drinking buffalo colostrum.
Type 2 calves are removed from their biological mothers within 48 hours of birth,
after drinking buffalo colostrum.
Type 3 calves are raised by their biological mothers until weaning.

Type 1 entails the immediate removal of the calves after birth, followed by feeding of cattle
colostrum and then bottle or bucket- feeding, or use of foster mother dairy cows. This
technique has several advantages :a)
Reduced risk that the calves will become infected with FMD.
b)
No confusing FMD titers arising from buffalo colostrum.
c)
The calves become very tame and are easier to handle, and to treat with
acaricides.
d)
The calves should generally be able to be removed from the facility in the
FMD infected zone at an earlier age.
e)
If ticks manage to break through the tick control efforts, there are no Theileriainfected buffalo in the immediate vicinity of the calves.
f)
Shorter inter-calving period for the buffalo cows, since there is no lactational
suppression of oestrus.
g)
Reduced risk of coccidiosis infection.
Disadvantages include increased costs, because this system is labour and management
intensive. Early detection of incipient parturition is critical. Early disease resistance of the
calves depends on quality and correct dosing of bovine colostrum.
In type 2, the buffalo calves are removed from their biological mothers only after they have
drunk colostrum (approximately 48 hours). They are then bucket or bottle-fed or may be
raised by foster mother dairy cows. The advantages of this system are that the calves learn to
suckle strongly from the udder, and that they obtain the buffalo colostral protection against
diseases. A disadvantage of this system is that these calves will have positive titers to FMD
for a variable period, delaying completion of stage 1 quarantine and their removal date from
the infected zone facility.
In Type 3, the calves are left with their biological dams after birth, obtain a normal buffalo
colostral immunity, and are removed from the cows as a group when they are 5 7 months
old (when the colostrum derived FMD antibody titers have waned significantly). The major
advantage of this technique is that costs may be reduced due to less intensive labour and

22

management levels. The calves are also exposed to herd behaviour with positive buffalo
imprinting. The disadvantages are that there is a finite risk of break-through FMD infection
as the calves passive immunity wanes. The calves are also constantly in the presence of their
Theileria infected dams, so any break down in tick control may result in Theileria
transmission to the calves. Corridor disease projects in the vector-free areas also fall into this
category, but no routine FMD testing of these calves are necessary until they are to be
translocated.
In types 1 and some type 2 systems, the buffalo calves are then hand- raised in small groups
using bottle or bucket- feeding of whole cows milk (from registered disease-free dairies)
during stage 1 of quarantine. The disadvantages are that it is extremely labour intensive, and
if hygiene practices are less than excellent, then all the typical calfhood problems can be
expected to occur. A further disadvantage may be that these calves may develop aberrant
behaviour later in life, because they have imprinted on humans. An alternate in the type 2
systems is to place the calves with foster dairy cow mothers, 48 72 hours after birth
(ensuring buffalo colostrum intake). This system reduces most of the problems associated
with hand rearing.

10)

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND MOVEMENT PROTOCOLS

FIRST STAGE QUARANTINE

This stage begins immediately and must be carried out in the clean facility , that is a
minimum of 100 meters (as far as possible) from the adult buffalo, and involves either
newborn or weaned buffalo calves , depending on the breeding system used. This first stage
quarantine does not apply to Corridor disease projects in vector free areas.
All foster cattle must be tested in parallel with the calves for all diseases.
All the calves in a group are to be tested simultaneously.
Type 1 : Newborn Calves
All the newborn buffalo calves should optionally be bled (commercial operators
responsibility) for baseline FMD titres within their first month of age. These results will
confirm whether any of the calves have drunk buffalo colostrum. Thereafter, the first
stage quarantine testing may begin. If the calves are in a group, then the minimum age of
the group must be one month.
Once all these calves in the quarantine facility are confirmed as negative for FMD, CD
and TB (gamma interferon) by the local State Veterinarian, then Stage 1 quarantine is
completed.
Type 2 and 3: Buffalo Calves that have drunk buffalo colostrum

At weaning, these 5 7 month old calves - whether hand- raised or raised by

surrogate dairy cattle or their biological mothers, must be bled to determine their
residual FMD titres. Once they test negative for FMD, they must also be tested for
CD and TB (gamma interferon). Once all calves in this group have negative titres for
FMD and a single negative test for CD and BTB, then Stage 1 is completed.

Sampling for all negative qualifying tests must be done a minimum of thirty days after
separation of the calves from the adult buffalo.

23

After completion of Stage 1, the calves from all of the above systems must be moved to a
suitable quarantine facility in the FMD surveillance zone of Limpopo Province or
Mpumalanga . This movement will be controlled by the local State Veterinarian.
In all breeding systems, movement from the facility in the FMD-infected zone, to the
facility in the surveillance zone, must take place within a maximum of three weeks after
sampling.
SECOND STAGE QUARANTINE
Calves and foster dairy cattle that have successfully completed Stage 1, now qualify to
enter Stage 2 of the quarantine process in a facility within the FMD surveillance zone. Calves
and foster cattle from all three of the above breeding systems now have the same status.
This second stage quarantine process will take place at a facility where no adult buffalo are
present. This quarantine facility should not be located in a game or cattle camp, or should
have a surrounding one hundred meter wide exclusion zone that is free of susceptible
animals.
After a minimum period of 30 days in this second quarantine facility, all calves and foster
mothers must be re-bled for FMD, BTB (gamma) and CD.
If the test results are all negative, then these calves and dairy cows qualify to enter the
third stage of quarantine, which takes place in the same facility.
For Corridor disease projects in the vector-free area, calves must be tested for CD and BTB
(blood test) at least 30 days after separation from the CD infected breeding stock.
THIRD STAGE QUARANTINE

After a minimum period of a further 30 days at the same facility, all the calves and
foster cattle must be re-bled for FMD and BTB. If the test results are all negative,
then this stage of the quarantine process is completed. These animals can now be
moved as a group, with PVS approval (Annexure 4), to a suitable quarantine facility,
that is registered for FMD/CD free buffalo outside the FMD/CD control areas, to
complete their fourth stage quarantine. This movement must take place within 30 days
of the last test sampling in the surveillance zone, otherwise the FMD results may no
longer be valid and the calves will lose their disease-free status and need to be
retested for FMD. The foster cattle may stay on in the surveillance zone or may be
moved back to the primary facility in the infected zone.
For CD projects, the calves must be re-bled for CD plus their first FMD and CA test.
A skin test for BTB is also required before they qualify for movement to another
property.

FOURTH STAGE QUARANTINE

After a minimum of 30 days quarantine and not before all buffalo calves are a minimum age
of 9 months , a full panel of tests for FMD, CD, BTB (skin test) and CA (CFT) must be
repeated for all calves in a facility outside the FMD control area. This quarantine period is
also necessary in case of any significant disease event occurring at origin shortly after a
buffalo consignment has been moved out of the control area. Following receipt of negative
test results, the calves must be released into a free range camp for a retention period of 12
months.

24

FIFTH STAGE RETENTION

This retention period should take place in the presence of brown-ear tick exposure, and
preferably in the presence of sentinel cattle. After this 12 month retention period, these calves
must be re-tested for all four diseases, and if negative, they may be released, by the local
State Veterinarian, with the PDVS approval.
These fourth and fifth stage requirements do not apply to calves originating from CD
projects in the vector-free areas and that are destined for farms in the vector-free areas.
However, calves from vector-free projects destined for areas with patent vectors will be
subject to the same requirements.

DISEASE TEST SUMMARY FOR BUFFALO CALVES ORIGINATING

FROM THE FMD INFECTED ZONE
TESTS REQUIRED

Quarantine Location of
stage
Facility
Stage 1

FMD infected
zone

Stage 2

FMD
surveillance
zone
FMD
surveillance
Zone
Outside the
FMD & CD
control areas

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Free range on
same property
as Stage 4
facility

Duration of
quarantine
/retention
Variable :- until
first negative test
results
Minimum 30
days after arrival
at the facility
Minimum of 30
days after Stage 2
tests
Minimum of 30
days after
entering the 4th
Stage facility.
12 months

FMD CD TB
(a)
X

(a) (a)= not for calves under 3 months of age.

CA Other
Requirements

X ???
Blood
Test
X
Blood
test
X
Blood
Test
X
X
Skin
Test
X
Skin
test

Effective tick
Control
Effective tick
control
Effective tick
control
Minimum age
of 9 months.
No tick
control
Unprotected
full brownear tick
exposure

25

In summary, no matter which breeding system is used, each calf must have three
consecutive negative tests for FMD and BTB and two consecutive tests for CD, while in
the disease control area. This is followed by 30 days quarantine with retesting for all
diseases (including the first CA test) outside of the disease control area. Thereafter, all
calves are subject to a retention period of 12 months under free-range conditions and
brown-ear tick exposure. Finally, following the completion of the retention period, a full
panel of negative tests for all four diseases will be required before the animals are
released from the breeding project.

TEST SUMMARY FOR BUFFALO CALVES FROM CD VECTOR-FREE

PROJECTS
QUARANTINE
STAGE

LOCATION
OF
FACILITY

Stage 1

Vector
Free Area
Vector
free area

Stage 2

Stage 3

Vector
free area

Stage 4 & 5

CD vector
area

COMMENCEMENT
AND DURATION
OF QUARANTINE
or RETENTION

FMD CD BTB

N/A

O
X

N
E
X
Blood
test

X
Skin
Test

X
Skin
test

Minimum 30 days
after separation fro
CD infected breeding
stock
Minimum 30 days
after primary test.
Calves must be at
least 9 months old
Same as for lowveld
calves

CA DESTINATION

No
Movement
No
Movement
Other
properties in
the vector
free area
CD vector
area

11)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

1)

Calves testing positive only for FMD may be translocated to registered buffalo farms
within the FMD infected zone, and may be sold as BTB free buffalo. At the
discretion of the PDVS, negative buffalo in the group (unlikely) may undergo two
further FMD tests 30 days apart, starting at least 30 days after removal of the positives
before continuing in the breeding project.
Calves testing positive only for Corridor disease can be translocated to buffalo
registered farms in the Kwazulu /Natal CD control area or to existing projects using
CD carrier breeding stock for breeding purposes only (not free-ranging). All other
buffalo in the group must undergo two further tests for CD (at three monthly
intervals), under tick-free conditions, starting no less than thirty days after removal of
the positive calves.
Calves testing positive for bovine tuberculosis must be slaughtered, and if BTB is
confirmed, then all other calves from that original group must undergo a further five
consecutive negative intradermal tests over a period of 15 months, before they can be
considered BTB-free. Hand reared calves from BTB positive mothers must undergo

2)

3)

26

4)

5)

five negative intradermal tests for BTB 3 months apart before they can qualify for
BTB negative status.
Calves testing positive for brucellosis must be slaughtered, or may be sent to the State
Veterinarian, Skukuza for research purposes. All other calves in the group will be
handled at the discretion of the PDVS. It must be remembered that the brucellosis
status of heifer calves is related to the brucellosis status of their dams.
THE MOVEMENT OF ALL BUFFALO, OR BUFFALO PRODUCTS, TO OR
FROM ANY BUFFALO BREEDING FACILITY ARE SUBJECT TO STRICT
PERMIT CONTROL. THESE PERMITS REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM
DIRECTOR LEVEL.

12) CONTINGENCY PLANS

For contingency planning purposes, only FMD is considered to have major epidemic
potential. Bovine tuberculosis is a slow chronic disease and the chances of this disease
occurring in young calves from negative dams is remote. Brucellosis is not an immediate
problem in buffalo before reproductive age. Theileriosis is non-contagious and vector
control in the facility, plus the immediate removal of any calf that tests positive, limits
the risk of spread to an acceptable level.

Contingency Plan for FMD Infection in a Buffalo Calf Facility.

a) If the calf facility is in the FMD infected zone (stage 1 quarantine), and there are
infected adult buffalo on the premises, this is does not constitute an OIE reportable
outbreak, and the losses incurred due to limited marketability of the infected calves
must be born by the commercial operator.
b) If the calf facility is in the surveillance zone (Stage 2 quarantine) and FMD infection
is suspected, the situation is more serious. This risk is minimised by the fact that
there are no adult buffalo present and that the calves have already had one or two
negative screening test for FMD.
In the unlikely event of such an outbreak being suspected, the following sequence of
events becomes operative: The whole farm is immediately placed under quarantine, and all exits are manned to
prevent any movement of animals or their products.
Specimens are collected from all suspect animals for confirmation of the diagnosis.
If the diagnosis is confirmed:

An SR1 is to be immediately sent to the NDAH.

Stop all animal movements in a 10 km radius .
Investigative inspections must be initiated on all neighboring farms, taking into
consideration the proximity of susceptible livestock as well as prevailing climatic
conditions at the time of the outbreak. Officials that have been exposed to FMD on a
positive farm must not have contact with susceptible hoofed animals for at least 4
days before starting inspection service on other farms of unknown FMD status.

27

Forward and trace back investigations are initiated to follow the movement of any
animals or products that had occurred just prior to the outbreak.
The potential source of the outbreak must be investigated.
The fate of infected calves will be decided by the Provincial and National Director.

Depending on the results of the investigative and forward and trace back inspections
and the whole containment exercise, quarantine and movement controls may be
expanded, or lifted 30 days after the last positive animal has been removed. For further
reading see National Standard Operating Procedure and Contingency Plans of
Provinces.

History of Drafts of this Protocol.

Draft No.1
Draft No 2
Draft No. 3
Draft No. 4
Draft No. 5
Draft No. 6
Draft No. 7
Draft No. 8
Draft No. 9
Draft No. 9
Draft No. 10
Draft No. 11
Draft No. 12
Draft No. 13
Draft No. 14
Draft No 15
Draft No 16
Draft No 17
Draft No. 18
Draft No. 19
Draft No.20

20th February, 1997

14th May, 1999
25th November, 1999
28th February, 2000
10th March, 2000
17th May, 2000
20th July, 2000
20th September,2000
5th October, 2000
8th August, 2001
8th September, 2001
22nd October, 2001
27th November,2001
22nd January, 2002
31st January, 2002
20th May, 2002
10th June, 2002
26th August,2002
29 August, 2002.
1st September, 2002.
19th September, 2002.