6 min read · Updated 10 July 2026
Guidance, not legal advice
Requirements are set and updated by the Department of Agriculture and the relevant FMD scheme. Always confirm the current requirements for your province and species with your state or private vet. This guide describes what these registers generally include.
Why it matters now
FMD is a controlled animal disease. During outbreaks and in protection zones, your ability to move, sell or slaughter animals can depend on proving they were vaccinated correctly and on time. A farmer who cannot produce records may be unable to trade — even if the vaccinations were actually done.
What a vaccination register should capture
| Field | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| Date of vaccination | Proves timing against the required schedule |
| Vaccine name / type | Confirms the correct product for FMD |
| Batch / lot number | Traceability if a batch is recalled or queried |
| Number of animals vaccinated | Reconciles against your herd count |
| Species & group / camp | Shows which animals are covered |
| Animal or group identification | Links the dose to specific animals/tags |
| Vet / administrator name | Accountability for who did the work |
The batch number is the one people forget
In an audit or an outbreak investigation, the batch number is often the field that matters most — and the one most often missing from paper records. Capture it every time.
How to keep it audit-ready
- Record at the time of vaccination, not from memory later — accuracy collapses within days.
- Keep it digital and backed up. A gazette increasingly expects records you can produce on demand, not a notebook that can be lost or burned.
- Make sure counts reconcile with your stock records — an inspector will cross-check vaccinated numbers against your herd totals.
- Retain history. You may need to show vaccinations going back multiple rounds, not just the latest one.
Generate the register automatically
FarmBind's Livestock module keeps every vaccination, batch number and camp as you log it, and produces an audit-ready FMD vaccination PDF on demand — plus dipping, movement and treatment registers.
See the Livestock moduleCommon questions
- What does an FMD vaccination register need to include?
- Generally: the vaccination date, vaccine type, batch/lot number, number and species of animals, the camp or group and their identification, and the name of the vet or person who administered it. Confirm the exact current requirements with your provincial Department of Agriculture, as the FMD scheme rules are updated over time.
- Do FMD vaccination records have to be digital?
- The direction of travel in South Africa is firmly toward digital, on-demand traceability rather than paper. Even where paper is still accepted, a digital, backed-up record is far safer — it cannot be lost, and it can be produced instantly during an inspection or outbreak.
- How long should I keep vaccination records?
- Keep a full history, not just the most recent round. During disease investigations you may be asked to demonstrate a pattern of correct vaccination over time. Digital records make retaining years of history effortless.