Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
Herdowners should ensure service bulls they lease this season are tested for bovine tuberculosis (TB) before allowing them near their existing herd, says TBfree New Zealand.
Commercial bull lessors should organise a TB test for all bulls before marketing and leasing them to herdowners, meaning as many animals as possible can be tested in one go.
There is no fee to TB test service bulls and it gives the receiving herdowner peace of mind that the leased animal is clear of the disease.
With calving approaching, NAIT also reminds farmers that registering this season's calves at their farm of birth will enable lifetime traceability for these animals.
Calves should be tagged within six months of birth or before their first off-farm movement – whichever occurs soonest. They then need to be registered in the NAIT system within one week of being tagged.
If there is any doubt around a bull's TB status, herdowners need to contact TBfree New Zealand on 0800 482 4636 to find out if a recent test has been completed, book a test and learn about the animal's disease history.
TBfree New Zealand can let you know if the bull been in a Movement Control Area, where all animals are legally required to be TB tested at least 60 days prior to being moved.
TBfree New Zealand national disease manager Dr Kevin Crews said the majority of cattle and deer herd infections can be traced back to infected possums in TB risk areas, but stock movement-related infections still occur.
"Protecting the pastoral production sector from TB requires constant vigilance, especially when bringing new animals, such as service bulls, onto a property," said Crews.
All service bulls must also be accompanied by an Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form which herdowners need to check has been correctly completed. This includes making sure the TB test date of the animal is recorded and the herd status is supplied so you know if the bull presents a possible TB risk.
"Don't be complacent and don't think that TB is not out there. Make sure you do your checks and you will know you have done everything you can to prevent TB from infecting your herd," says Crews.
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…
OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…