Unsung heroes under the soil
Much of the scientific work being carried out at the Massey University led regenerative agriculture project, Whenua Haumanu, is below the ground.
A vaccine, claimed to be the first specific product against Streptococcus uberis, the most common cause of environmental mastitis in New Zealand, was launched here last month.
UBAC, developed by leading Spanish pharmaceutical manufacturer Hipra, is now available exclusively from Agilis Vet Ltd.
This follows a successful release in Europe in 2018 across 50 countries.
At the recent launch, Dr Marga Penelas, global product manager at HIPRA, spoke about the global increase in the incidence of mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis and the frustration caused by the lack of response to conventional treatments.
It is an exciting step towards reducing the need to treat mastitis with antibiotics and working towards maximising milk production, he said.
Agilis Vet general manager Ben Lee says those present at the launch showed their enthusiasm for the idea of having new tools for the control of this pathogen.
“They also understood that with the launch of UBAC and the consolidation of STARTVAC – a mastitis vaccine registered in NZ for Staphlococcus aureus – Agilis affirms its commitment to new tools for the control and prevention of mastitis in dairy cows.
“Furthermore, this product – like others in our portfolio – supports our determination to move animal health towards preventative care as good standard practice.”
In its submission on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act, DairyNZ says its levy-paying members invested more than $60 million across the biosecurity system last year, through multiple biosecurity levies across several entities and legislative frameworks to collect this funding.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has received 136 submissions on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act.
Nick Beeby has been appointed as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Global beef supply will contract this year for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Rabobank.
Changes to migrant visa settings announced last month should take a lot of pressure off farmers in the new season, says Federated Farmers immigration spokesman Richard McIntyre.
Horticulture New Zealand says an outbreak of fruit fly could have significant impacts for the horticulture sector.
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