No Further H5 Bird Flu Detections in NZ, MPI Confirms
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.
With the closure of saleyards under Alert 4, New Zealand’s virtual saleyard bidr says it will be an essential tool for the trading of livestock during lockdown.
MPI and MBIE have acknowledged the benefits of the online platform for the trading of livestock during the process of registering PGG Wrightson (“PGW”) as an essential service.
PGW – bidr is a wholly owned subsidiary of PGW – has agreed with MPI and MBIE to continue to support the accreditation of other livestock agencies during the COVID-19 lock down period to facilitate the essential trading of livestock.
Carrfields Livestock Limited has been accredited to the bidr platform.
Donald Baines, Carrfields’ general manager – livestock says the suspension of saleyard operations requires the industry to think laterally and the online auction platform will be an essential tool for the accredited companies to continue to market livestock to the wider industry.
In order to support farmers with essential livestock trades, stock agents who have been unable to complete bidr’s assessor accreditation process, due to the Level 4 COVID-19 restrictions, will be able to list livestock – with the acknowledgement that “the lot has not been assessed by a bidr accredited assessor.”
Agents will continue to stand behind their listings and represent their vendor in the transaction. When normal livestock trading conditions resume, agents will be required to participate in bidr’s assessor accreditation process.
Tayla Steele is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University in Palmerston North.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.
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New Zealanders are being urged to be alert following a confirmed positive case of H5 bird flu this week.
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