Gangjin County Reopens Livestock Market with Enhanced Quarantine Measures, Offering Relief to Livestock Farmers

Special Calf Auction on May 6
Full Operations Resume from May 9

Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province (Governor Gang Jinwon) will reopen the Gangjin Wando Livestock Cooperative livestock market, which had been temporarily closed due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, on May 6 and 9.

According to the county on April 29, a special auction for pedigree calves will be held on May 6 to address the supply of calves within the county and to improve the actual income of livestock farmers. On May 9, the livestock auction market will open for all Hanwoo cattle.

The reopening comes more than two months after operations were temporarily suspended on March 14 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in neighboring counties. Despite the strict quarantine situation, the decision to reopen the livestock market was made to minimize the damage to Hanwoo farmers, who have been facing increasing management difficulties due to the prolonged suspension of Hanwoo trading.

Gang Jinwon, the county governor, is visiting the cattle market and listening to explanations from officials. Provided by Gangjin County

Additionally, after the completion of vaccination and a two-week immunity formation period, the livestock market will be reopened in stages according to risk level, under even stricter quarantine measures.

The Gangjin Wando Livestock Cooperative livestock market was thoroughly cleaned, washed, and disinfected immediately after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and intensive disinfection was carried out ahead of the reopening. To further strengthen quarantine measures, all people and vehicles visiting the livestock market must be disinfected at the designated disinfection facility, and every vehicle entering the market must undergo additional internal and external disinfection.

A veterinarian will be stationed at the entrance of the livestock market to conduct clinical examinations, and footbath disinfection facilities will be installed at major entrances to enhance quarantine. After the market closes each day, thorough cleaning, washing, and disinfection will be conducted. Hanwoo cattle from Yeongam and Muan, areas where foot-and-mouth disease has occurred, will not be permitted for trade at the Gangjin Wando Livestock Cooperative livestock market.

Kim Kyungguk, head of the Livestock Division, stated, "We have reopened the livestock market to minimize the damage to farmers who have been experiencing management difficulties due to the prolonged suspension of operations. We will do our utmost to prevent the spread of livestock diseases in cooperation with the Livestock Cooperative, and we ask that all visitors and vehicles actively cooperate with the strengthened quarantine measures."

Gangjin County aims to improve the actual income of local livestock farmers and provide a stable trading environment through the reopening of the livestock market. The county will also closely monitor the quarantine situation and take additional measures as necessary in the future.