Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
OSPRI has suspended possum control operations in support of its TBfree disease eradication programme during the COVID-19 lockdown.
While possum control for the purposes of TB eradication is an important part of the TBfree programme, it is not regarded by Ministry of Primary Industries as an “essential service” that needs to continue during the lockdown.
The Government has set a high threshold for what constitutes an essential service, and says pest operations, while important, have insufficient immediate impact on market access, animal welfare and food safety to qualify.
TB testing of livestock and slaughter surveillance at meat processing plants will continue to provide assurance of TB-free meat and dairy products.
OSPRI chief operating officer Matthew Hall says stopping possum control operations, while unsettling, is not expected to impact the overall progress of the TBfree programme, although it may affect eradication target dates in some areas.
“We will assess which operations will resume post-lockdown and update farmers and contractors accordingly.”
Possums are the main vector of transmission of TB between wildlife and livestock, and farmers are encouraged to safely continue possum control on their land while Ospris contractors are grounded.
Further guidance on the resumption of TBfree possum control will be communicated when a firm date for the end of the present circumstances has been established, Ospri says.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
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