Make vets part of your management team
Farmers are being urged to make their veterinarians an integral part of their farm management team.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy is welcoming a new report showing a major improvement in bobby calf welfare last year.
MPI has vets at nearly every processing plant and in the 2016 season the mortality rate for bobby calves between farm and processing has halved – from 0.25% to 0.12%.
“This is a drop of just over 50% and shows that new regulations and education campaigns have made a real difference,” says Guy.
Also, calves are arriving at plants in much better health and condition. “This is also a significant drop from 2008 when the mortality rate was 0.68%,” says Guy.
“The wider industry and MPI have put a lot of work into improving practices over recent years and they deserve recognition for this.
“While there are still a few in the industry who need to improve their behaviour, this provides strong evidence things are improving.”
This is the first season with tighter new rules for handling bobby calves. And from August 1 this year truckies will have to use loading and unloading gear when young calves are trucked for sale and slaughter, and they must have appropriate shelter.
Guy has acknowledged the industry groups who in late 2015 formed a Bobby Calf Action Group – DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, the NZ Veterinary Association, Road Transport Forum, Meat Industry Association, Dairy Companies
Association of NZ, the NZ Petfood Manufacturers Association and MPI.
“The Government strengthened the animal welfare system with $10 million in new funding in 2015 and passed the Animal Welfare Amendment Act to improve compliance and enforcement,” Guy says.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.