Thursday, 10 September 2015 15:31

TB infected at record low

Written by Rural News Group

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Testing cattle for TB.

The number of bovine tuberculosis (TB) infected herds has dropped below 40 for the first time in the history of New Zealand’s TBfree programme.

According to figures released by OSPRI this week, an all-time low of 36 herds were infected with bovine TB (34 cattle and two deer herds).

“Reaching this milestone is a credit to farmers and the industry and Government organisations that are shareholders and investors in the TBfree programme and is a big step towards New Zealand becoming TB-free,” says OSPRI chief executive, Michelle Edge.

However, Edge says, while this is a significant milestone, it is important to remain vigilant and focus on managing numbers of infected herds during the season where finishing stock heading to the processing works.

The TBfree programme has recently undergone an independent review, including scientific modelling, a review of operational outcomes and a full public consultation process. The Plan Governance Group comprising industry shareholders and independent chair, Chris Kelly, facilitated the process. A final proposal is due to be presented to the Minister of Primary Industries for review and approval by the end of September.

OSPRI say in their role as the appointed management agency, they will implement the outcomes of the review and continue working towards eradicating TB from livestock by 2026 and from wildlife by 2055.

Currently the main aim of the TB programme is to eradicate TB from possums and other wildlife across 2.5 million hectares of New Zealand’s at-risk areas by 2026. The review of the national TB Plan found that OSPRI’s TBfree programme is well ahead of its targets with more than 1.2 million hectares already eradicated. The programme’s ‘proof of concept’ areas have demonstrated that the disease can successfully be eradicated.

"There’s still a lot of work to be done but we’re excited about the direction that the Plan review is moving with the goal of achieving eradication more quickly and at a lower cost,” says Edge.

“This is good news for industry and provides further proof of New Zealand’s animal health status for international trading partners.”

Consultation on the review closed on 31 July after a large number of submissions and significant feedback from workshops around the country.

Further details of the review and a wide range of supporting information can be found at www.tbplanreview.co.nz.

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