Thursday, 24 April 2025 11:55

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

Written by  Staff Reporters
Strong industry participation and controls remain critical to controlling and ultimately eradicating TB, says B+LNZ. Strong industry participation and controls remain critical to controlling and ultimately eradicating TB, says B+LNZ.

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

TBfree, which is administered by OSPRI, has a goal of eradicating TB from New Zealand by 2055. To date, the programme has seen current numbers of affected herds reduced to 14 out of around 75,000.

However, Dave Harrison, general manager policy and advocacy for B+LNZ, says strong industry participation and controls remain critical to controlling and ultimately eradicating the disease.

“The success so far is down to everyone involved in TBfree, including farmers, vets, farm advisors, pest controllers, and regulatory agencies,” says Harrison.

“We are doing well but we cannot afford to be complacent. There’s more to do to eradicate the disease, to protect our valuable dairy, beef and deer industries and safeguard our rural communities.

“If we take our eye off the ball, then there’s a risk that we could go backwards quickly – something we saw in the 1970s and 1980s when control efforts were scaled back. The reality is that we won’t get to zero, or be able to maintain current low numbers, until the disease is no longer present in wildlife, primarily possums,” says Harrison.

“The risk is not just to our beef, dairy and venison export industries, but also to the wellbeing of our farmers and our rural communities.”

He is encouraging farmers to share their views on the future of TB control and eradication in the upcoming 10 year statutory review of the programme.

The review provides an opportunity to discuss how the programme is tracking against the current plan set in 2016.

It will look at different options for the best ways to achieve the programme’s goal. There will be opportunities to provide input into the review during June and July.

“We need everyone involved to have their say on what, if anything, we need to do differently over the next ten years.

Bovine TB is a risk to the farming industry, animal health and the country’s economy. New Zealand is at a higher risk than many other countries, in part due to the risk of TB being spread by possums.

Proposed options in the consultation will be informed by several independent technical, science and financial reviews of the 2016 TB Plan and its progress over the last nine years.

There will be online consultation and submissions as well as some in-person presentations in areas still most impacted by TB.

Following consultation, recommendations will go to the Minister of Biosecurity in August.

OSPRI is an independent company tasked with delivery of two statutory programmes, NAIT and TB free. It is also currently managing the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis.

It is funded by farmers through shareholders DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Deer Industry New Zealand, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

More like this

Autumn sub clover control sets up pasture for spring

Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.

Featured

Creating a buzz on World Bee Day

The message for the 2025 World Bee Day is a call to action for sustainable practices that support bees, improve food security, and protect biosecurity in the face of mounting climate pressures.

NZ supports rules-based system

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters often describes NZ as a small and isolated nation situated 'just north of the penguins' but says in terms of global affairs, NZ and other small nations should be judged on the quality of their arguments and not the size of their military.

National

Machinery & Products

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

R.I.P. Sir Bob

OPINION: When news broke that Sir Bob Jones had died at age 85, the nightly news bulletins all led with…

Can't help itself

OPINION: Greenpeace claims that the appointment of Dr John Roche as the PM's Chief Science Advisor is handing the powers…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter