before the rinderpest

proverb Long ago. Rinderpest is a contagious and often fatal cattle disease that has decimated Africa's cattle population at various times throughout history. Primarily heard in Scotland. Before the rinderpest, this area was hardly developed at all. I bet that dilapidated old barn was here before the rinderpest.

before (or since) the rinderpest

a long time ago (or for a very long time). South African

Rinderpest is a contagious viral disease of cattle that periodically caused heavy losses in much of Africa. The 1896 epidemic was so devastating that it was treated as a historical landmark, so giving rise to this expression.