Handling sheep with care
I wrote an article in the May 6th issue of Rural News about how when set-stocking ewes for lambing, they need spreading lightly - and topped up with cattle after the lambs have dropped.
A Pukekohe deer farmer was recently fined $12,000 for not tagging 278 animals under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.
Under the NAIT scheme all cattle or deer must be fitted with a tag and registered in the system by the time the animal is 180 days old, or before the animal is moved off farm.
Late last month, Lester Harrison Nixon was sentenced in the Papakura District Court on two charges under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act, following a successful prosecution by Ministry for Primary Industries.
“NAIT tags are there to track and trace animals.
“They play a critical role in helping to ensure we can respond quickly and accurately in the event of a biosecurity incursion,” explained MPI acting national manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Brendon Mikkelsen.
“When people in charge of animals disregard their NAIT obligations they put the whole agricultural sector at risk.”
MPI said it made inquiries with Nixon about outstanding animal movements on his NAIT account in 2021. He has three properties registered in the NAIT database.
“We found Mr Nixon had made little effort to comply with the NAIT system, advising us that he does not tag his deer until just before they’re transported,” MPI reported. “He said he does not register the tags and that he had farmed for over 30 years without it (NAIT).”
During a search of one of Nixon’s properties where he had NAIT animals grazing, MPI found 132 deer not fitted with a NAIT tag and at another of his properties, a further 146 deer were also not fitted with tags.
In 2019, penalties in the NAIT Act increased tenfold to $100,000 for an individual, and up to $200,000 for a body corporate.
Mikkelsen says while receiving one of these penalties could hurt the bottom line for people in charge of animals, the inability to trace animals can have far reaching and serious consequences for everyone.
“The NAIT tag and registration system is only as effective as the information entered in. If you are unsure about what you need to do, reach out,” he added. “There is plenty of information, advice and support available.”
Questions are being raised about just how good the state of the dairy industry is - especially given that the average farmgate payout for the coming season is set to exceed $10/kgMS.
A leading financial and banking advisor says he doubts if most dairy farmers fully understand the dynamics of banking.
Dairy farmers are shoring up their balance sheets, with almost $1.7 billion of debt repaid in the six months to March 2025.
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
A former Fonterra executive is the new chair of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
New Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean is looking forward to tackling the issues facing the sector.
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