M. bovis testing coming to your farm

All dairy companies, industry groups and the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) are working together to rollout a national testing programme.

Fonterra says that in order to get the testing kits (chilly bin, jug, ice pack, vials) to farmers as quickly and efficiently as possible, over 50 information meetings are being held across the country by processors over the next four weeks.

The meetings will include presentations by a dairy company, MPI and Dairy NZ.

“While there is no indication that M bovis is present beyond where it has already been found, this programme will give MPI the information it needs to decide next steps,” the co-op says.

The national testing programme involves testing nearly 11,000 herds across 7 regions. Testing involves taking three samples, including two taken by farmers 14 days apart, and having tanker drivers collect the samples and send them to the lab.

Farms that have already been tested in South Canterbury, Southland/Otago and Hastings region will not need to be re-tested.

The roll out of national testing will be as follows;

Feb 7-9 - Central Districts

Feb 13-15 - Areas of Canterbury that have not been tested

Feb 14-15 - Taranaki

Feb 19-21 - West Coast and Northland

Feb 19-22 – Bay of Plenty

Feb 22-23 - Top of the South Island

Feb 26-28 - Waikato