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

Attacq FY’2026 DIPS up 15.5% as R2.2bl Development Pipeline Takes Off

Attacq delivered a 15.5% jump in normalised DIPS and a 17.2% rise in dividends, anchored by Waterfall City’s development engine. CFO Peter de Villiers unpacks occupancy strength, capital discipline, renewable‑energy investment, and the R2.2 billion development pipeline reshaping the precinct. A deep dive into how Attacq continues to deliver resilience…
15 Sep 1PM 13 min

El Niño Returns: Why SA Agriculture Is Ready

El Niño is back — but unlike previous drought cycles, South Africa enters the 2026/27 season with record soil moisture, dam levels at 95.5%, improved grain stocks and strong veld conditions. Absa AgriBusiness’ Loffie Brandt explains why the sector is better positioned, what risks remain, how rainfall timing and extreme…
14 Sep 2PM 9 min

Google SA on Practical AI Adoption

Ahead of the Nedbank IMC, Google SA’s Kabelo Makwane explains why many organisations remain stuck in AI pilot mode — and what separates those extracting measurable value. He breaks down leadership mindset, organisational readiness, responsible adoption, and how marketers can use AI to drive customer value, personalisation and growth.
14 Sep 1PM 21 min

DBSA Delivers R7.8bn Profit: Inside the Numbers

The DBSA has posted one of its strongest financial performances in recent years — net profit up 47% to R7.8bn, operating income up 21.7%, and disbursements rising to R20.7bn. But the picture includes rising NPLs, higher expected credit losses and liquidity pressure. CEO Boitumelo Mosako unpacks the drivers behind the…
14 Sep 12PM 19 min

Lesaka Turns Profitable: FY2026 Milestone Explained

Lesaka Technologies has delivered a landmark FY2026 performance — meeting or exceeding every guidance metric, surpassing the top end of its Adjusted EPS range, and achieving full‑year net profitability for the first time since its 2022 rebrand. Net Revenue rose 20%, Adjusted EBITDA climbed 41%, and Adjusted Earnings surged 229%…
10 Sep 1PM 14 min