M. bovis plan on track
New Zealand's world-first Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is making great strides but this isn't the time for complacency, says Ospri.
While the country's battle to eradicate M. bovis is going well, the war is still not over with new cases discovered in Canterbury late last year.
With this in mind, a New Zealand-based biotechnology company has launched what it describes as a 'groundbreaking' M. bovis test.
Pictor has launched its PicVet Mycoplasma bovis Multiplex ELISA Kit.
"After several years in development and following extensive internal and external validation studies, we are able to support farmers with a best-in-class test that has been extensively validated in nearly 5,000 samples - including bulk tank milk, serum, and individual milk specimens," Pictor managing director Jamie Platt says.
He adds that the company has completed rigorous internal and external validation trials in New Zealand and Australia before launching the test.
"In side-by-side studies with tests currently used in both Australia and NZ markets, our test has shown superior analytical performance, particularly in bulk tank milk which is typically used as the primary screening method," Platt explains.
Pictor's chief science officer at Pictor claims the PicVet Mycoplasma bovis Multiplex ELISA achieves superior performance by using three different antigens for detection, each optimised for the most commonly tested sample types.
"We believe that with the use of our M. bovis test, farmers and testing agencies could potentially eliminate individual animals rather than entire herds," he explains. "This approach not only reduces stress on farmers but also helps minimise costs associated with control programmes."
The manufacturing partner for the new test kits is South Pacific Sera based in Timaru. Pictor believes this represents a great New Zealand product and partnership success story in the biotech sector.
"South Pacific Sera is proud to apply its expertise and quality production systems to this Pictor project and the fight against M. bovis," says South Pacific Sera co-founder and production director William Rolleston.
The new kit is now available and being launched in multiple markets - including Australia, the USA, and New Zealand.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.
Fonterra has announced a record forecast opening organic milk price of $12.30/kgMS for the new season.
OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…
OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…