Taranaki farmer fined $15,000 for illegal NAIT tag swapping
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.
Cattle born since July 2012 must be tagged within six months of birth, or before they are moved off farm, whichever comes first, NAIT said in a reminder notice circulated earlier this month.
"We recommend farmers tag animals at the earliest possible time after birth," said acting farm operations manager Dan Schofield. "For best tag retention animals should be tagged in the inner part of the ear between the two veins."
They should also be registered with NAIT within one week of tagging, or before they leave the property, whichever is sooner.
Schofield says stock born before July 2012 considered too dangerous to tag should be slaughtered before July 2015.
"These animals must already have a TBfree New Zealand bar-coded primary ear tag to be eligible and the impractical-to-tag levy will apply."
Consultation reviewing the impractical-to-tag levy, scheduled to end July 2015, is underway.
