Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) wishes to set the record straight regarding the article titled ‘Imported semen fingered for M.bovis outbreak’ in Rural News October 24.
In the article, Chris Morley, DairyNZ biosecurity manager stated that, in his opinion, he would bet on semen as the most likely source of the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. Of course, Mr Morley is entitled to his opinion, but the fact of that matter is that MPI does not know how or when Mycoplasma bovis entered NZ, although significant efforts are being made to find out.
A full investigation is looking at six possible means of entry: live animals, imported semen, embryos, contaminated equipment, biological material (such as vaccines) and feed. While this is underway, we are not going to speculate on the origin of the disease in NZ.
We are dealing with a lot of uncertainty and it is possible that despite our best efforts, we may never know the exact source or route of entry.
Speculation, rumour and misinformation in situations such as this can be dangerous things when lives and livelihoods are at stake.
Intensive farming systems have been one area of misinformation. Mycoplasma bovis is common internationally, regardless of the farming system (indoors or outdoors). There is no evidence internationally that indoor farming raises the risk of Mycoplasma bovis infection.
But once the disease enters an indoor system, it is likely to spread more readily. To date, the animals that have tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis in NZ were farmed outdoors.
Another example of fear caused by misinformation is farms in South Canterbury and North Otago having contracts cancelled with customers looking at sourcing stock from other parts of NZ. This is disappointing and is not justified based on what we know of the current pattern of disease.
We have no evidence of any means of disease-spread other than from animals in close, repeated and prolonged contact on a farm at this stage. This includes no evidence that the disease has jumped fences and infected animals on neighbouring farms.
Since the start of this response in late July, we’ve carried out tens of thousands of tests of the infected, neighbouring and trace properties as well as district-wide testing in Waimate and Waitaki, and nationwide testing of bulk milk. The only positive results for the disease have been on seven infected properties, leading us to be cautiously optimistic that we are dealing with a localised area of infection around Oamaru.
We are moving forward with control measures to prevent further spread of the disease, with plans being developed with farmers to cull animals from the known infected farms.
What the South Canterbury and North Otago farming communities need right now is support. As much as possible, business needs to continue as usual. We realise that this is a worrying situation for farmers across NZ but business decisions need to be evidence-based and grounded in fact.
• Geoff Gwyn, MPI director readiness and response
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…
OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…