TB plan review to focus on possum hot spots
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
OSPRI will carry out on-farm TB testing, following AsureQuality's decision not to renew their contract.
Simon Andrew, OSPRI's general manager, disease control planning and integration says they are excited by this step in OSPRI's growth as an integrated disease management agency.
"Livestock TB testing remains an indespensible part of the TBfree programme, and we're working hard to ensure it continues at cattle and deer farms across New Zealand," says Andrew.
"By insourcing the service, it brings us closer to our farmers and that's particularly important given the crucial part they play in our TB eradication programme."
Andrew says it also introduces more agility, whether that's responsiveness to emerging technology or when changes in TB testing are needed quickly.
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.
The black and white coat of Holstein- Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle. But until recently, scientists didn’t know which genes were responsible for the Holstein’s spots.
According to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 report, New Zealand dairy farmers are achieving more with fewer cows.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…