National Pest Management Plan for TB seeks feedback
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
All six of the Taranaki region's bovine tuberculosis (TB) infected herds showed no trace of the disease after the latest round of testing.
TBfree Taranaki committee chairman Donald McIntyre says the test results are the first step towards ridding the herds of TB. They also came as a relief to the affected herdowners.
"Having an infected herd is extremely stressful for the affected farmer. The cooperation and support of the Taranaki farming community in helping the TB control programme stay on top of the herd infections has been greatly appreciated," says McIntyre.
TBfree New Zealand national disease manager Kevin Crews says once an animal is diagnosed with TB, the entire herd is required to pass two whole herd tests and a follow-up blood test before it can be declared free of infection.
"This means confirming the herds are no longer infected can be a long process, depending on the results of the upcoming tests," said Crews.
TBfree NZ continues to proactively investigate the source of the disease in the two infected herd clusters near Opunake and Inglewood, while making every effort to clear them of TB.
"The infections act as a stark reminder to herdowners in the Taranaki region – and throughout the country – to remain vigilant when buying, selling or moving livestock," says Crews.
Farmers need to ensure they are aware of the TB status of any stock coming onto their property by calling TBfree New Zealand on 0800 482 4636.
"The NAIT programme is also proving invaluable in tracing an animal's movement history. Cattle and deer farmers should ensure their herds are registered with both TBfree New Zealand and NAIT," says Crews.
"The increased cattle and deer testing requirements will remain around the Opunake and Inglewood areas for some time to check for any potential herd infections. No further infected cattle or deer herds have been detected at this stage.
"To date, precautionary wild animal surveys have not detected TB in the local possum population. This survey work will continue until we are confident that there is no wild animal TB risk present," says Crews.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
OPINION: Should cows in NZ be microchipped?
OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the…