Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
To ensure you meet your NAIT and TBfree programme obligations follow these steps when moving or selling stock this Gypsy Day.
• Update your contact details with OSPRI and record your stock movements.
• Check the TB status and testing requirements of the area into which you're moving cattle.
• Correctly complete an animal status declaration (ASD) form when shifting stock and do not accept any animals onto a farm if they're not accompanied by a correctly filled-out ASD form.
• Make sure that stock shifting from a movement control area have a pre-movement TB test within 60 days.
"We know that Gypsy day is a busy time of the year but it is important that farmers understand and meet both their NAIT and TBfree programme obligations," says OSPRI chief executive Michelle Edge.
NAIT data is used to trace the movements of potentially infected stock, both on and off farm, so the source of the disease can be identified and special TB testing programmes established to contain the infection.
As long as contact details and location are up to date, OSPRI can call when the herd is due for a TB test. Updating details is quick and easy and is crucial for keeping TB under control.
For help with all of these steps, call OSPRI on 0800 482 463.
