TB testing in-house
OSPRI will carry out on-farm TB testing, following AsureQuality's decision not to renew their contract.
Follow this advice when buying or selling calves.
The management and movement of calves are critical for disease management, with an estimated 1.5 million calves reared annually in New Zealand, says Ospri.
To ensure lifetime animal traceability and to support disease management, all newborn animals (calves) must be tagged and registered in NAIT within 180 days or before their first off-farm movement.
Failure to comply with your NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.
Ospri advises that when selling calves, they must be tagged correctly, for a higher retention rate.
It also wants farmers to register their calves online.
“Tell us which tags you have used in your NAIT account. This must be done before sending animals off-farm.
“Record a sending movement within 48 hours after you have sold calves or moved off-farm for rearing – except when sending to a saleyard.”
![]() |
---|
Bobby calves moved direct to slaughter are exempt from NAIT. |
When buying calves, confirm with the seller that the calves have been correctly tagged and are registered in the NAIT online system, Ospri says.
“Ask the seller for an Animal Status Declaration form (ASD). This form should be exchanged with the animals at the point of sale.
“When the calves arrive, read their NAIT tag numbers visually or electronically with a scanner.
“You will need this information to record or confirm a movement in your NAIT account. Record a receiving movement.”
Bobby calves moved direct to slaughter are exempt from all NAIT requirements.
Ospri urges farmers to check with their meat processor about their requirements for accepting bobby calves.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.