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

SA Homeowner growth steady, report finds

Hayley Ivins-Downes from Lightstone Property shares data about home-buying activity in South Africa, which paints an interesting picture about affordability and which specific parts of the country are seeing the most development.
27 Mar 5AM 11 min

INSIDE YOUR POCKET – South Africa’s consumer credit market steady

Data from TransUnion shows that South African credit usage has shown tentative recovery to a more broad-based recovery, with first-time buyers now accounting for just over half of financed purchases. Ayeshaa Hatea, from TransUnion South Africa, explains these findings and more.
27 Mar 5AM 11 min

Pivot Point - Building Africa’s Vaccine Sovereignty

Today on Pivot Point, we spotlight a leader whose work sits at the intersection of science, industrialization, and national security. Dr. Morena Makhoana, the CEO of Biovac, has spent two decades shaping South Africa’s vaccine manufacturing landscape and unpacks that journey.
27 Mar 5AM 25 min

Africa’s Trade Links Strengthen; Future Geopolitical Risks Loom

Data from Standard Bank signalled significant growth in intra-African trade in the past year, showing positive moment towards the continent achieving a successful AfCFTA. However, that picture could be complicated by recent tensions in the Middle East. For more on this let’s listen in to, Philip Myburgh, Head: Trade for…
25 Mar 4PM 12 min