Long, complex process

The feedlot, at Wakanui on the mid-Canterbury coast, was the only confirmed infected property in the country for a period around May 2022, before a resurgence of infections in the district forced MPI to declare it a special Controlled Area in October that year.

Depopulation of the feedlot had been delayed in part because of its unique place in New Zealand agriculture. Taking beef animals from all over the country, finishing them on grain and sending them only for slaughter, it was considered a high risk for reinfection while M. bovis remained elsewhere, but a low risk for infecting others. There would also be a significant ripple effect through its grain and other suppliers while it was out of operation.

Conley says the depopulation and repopulation took more than two years to plan and nearly three years in total.

“There were some big dairy operations that also went through the depopulation process as part of New Zealand’s eradication programme, but Five Star Beef would have been one of the largest and more complex.”

He said it was an integrated part of a much bigger part of ANZCO Foods’ supply chain for the niche product – from procurement of cattle and feed through to processing and in-market customers.

Conley said ANZCO worked collaboratively with MPI to ensure it was done in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

Going through the same decontamination process as other farms, it was depopulated by the end of 2022, with cattle being brought back on site in late March 2023 and processing of finished animals resuming in July.

“As a result we were out of the market for around six months, and during this time we maintained relationships with contracted growers and cattle suppliers so we could get back up and running as quickly, and as smoothly, as possible,” said Conley.

Despite the disruption, ANZCO has bucked the trend among major meat processors by declaring a net profit before tax of $60.9 million for the year to December 31 – in contrast to losses by the Alliance Group and Silver Fern Farms.

However, Conley said the depopulation had a significant impact on Five Star Beef’s employees and business, along with ANZCO’s other associated businesses and the wider community.