Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
New harrier hound puppies will potentially allow the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to breed giant biosecurity detector dogs.
MPI mainly uses beagles as detector dogs. Harrier hounds look like beagles but are much taller, making it easier to sniff travellers' backpacks and baggage stacked high on airport trolleys for biosecurity risk items.
Collectively known as "N-litter", the six new puppies will be the first harriers to undergo full training as biosecurity detector dogs, says Brett Hickman, MPI detection technology manager.
"We're excited about the prospect of putting the pups right through our puppy walking and training programme and equipping them with the full range of biosecurity detection skills."
By the end of their training, they will be able sniff 35 base odours, including fruit, vegetables, meat and plants – "items that could carry harmful pests or diseases into New Zealand".
MPI acquired the puppies from the New Zealand Hunts' Association last month and will look for potential breeding animals from the litter.
"We want to cross the harriers with beagles that have already established themselves as detector dog stars. That will increase the genetic diversity of our detector dogs, and will see the introduction of taller dogs in future generations under our breeding programme," says Hickman.
The pups are due to go to foster homes in Auckland and Hamilton in the next few weeks. This will help them get used to people and different environments.
MPI has two other harrier hounds – one working as a biosecurity detector dog and one in training. Both started their training as adolescents.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
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