SA govt approves first bird flu vaccine for poultry sector

Loading player...
In a landmark development for South Africa’s embattled poultry sector, Gary Arnold, CEO of Astral Foods, joins us to unpack the country's first permit to vaccinate against avian influenza. Following an 18-month application process, Astral has received approval to vaccinate a portion of its breeding stock against the highly pathogenic H5 strain, a critical move in the wake of devastating 2023 outbreaks that saw widespread culling, egg shortages, and nearly R400 million in direct losses for the company.
2 Jul 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

BofA Slashes SA Growth Forecast as Inflation Surges

Bank of America has cut South Africa’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.3%, warning that higher oil and fertilizer prices will keep inflation above 4% for most of the year. Economist Tatonga Rusike explains
23 Apr 3PM 11 min

Understanding SA’s First Wealth Score

Franc unveils South Africa’s first-ever Wealth Score, revealing that financial habits—not income—are the strongest predictor of financial health. We unpack why SA’s national score is 45/100 and the behavior gap between knowing and doing with Dr. Thomas Brennan, founder and CEO of Franc.
23 Apr 3PM 13 min

Clicks Lifts HEPS 8% Despite Warehouse Disruptions.

Clicks delivered firm interim results with diluted HEPS up 8.1%, even as warehouse system delays cost an estimated R175 million in lost sales. CEO Bertina Engelbrecht discusses pharmacy growth, trading margins, and festive‑season competition.
23 Apr 2PM 16 min