Editorial: Testing times
OPINION: Our hearts go out to the farmers and rural communities in Southland and Otago who are battling an onslaught of adverse weather.
Facilitated by the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ), the new Vets on Farm initiative will help fund local veterinarians to provide on-farm advice and support.
This will include farm systems reviews and planning, disease sampling and testing and herd health planning. Farm planning will focus on animal health and welfare.
VCNZ chief executive Iain McLachlan says veterinary clinics contracted by VCNZ will be contacting weatheraffected animal farmers in Northland, Coromandel, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa.
“We will be trying to register as many clinics as we can and for them to then contact as many farmers as possible by the end of December. The ‘on farm’ work will then start in earnest in the new year.”
McLachlan says farmers interested in benefiting from Vets on Farm should get in touch with their local vet. He adds that results from the disease sampling and testing will be hugely beneficial in understanding the impact extreme weather events had on animal health and production and ensure farmers have healthy animals.
“Another benefit from the project is reducing the risk of humans acquiring diseases such as Leptospirosis, which has been seen to increase significantly after floods and cyclones,” McLachlan explains.
“It’s important to ensure animals in affected areas are healthy and disease free, as prevention is always better than a cure.”
