THE ANIMAL Health Board (AHB) says its bovine tuberculosis (TB) control programme is producing results.

In its 2010-11 annual report and annual research report, the AHB says it has been a year of significant progress – with infected herd numbers low and the focus remaining on eradicating the disease.

The report details the development and implementation of new methods and processes that aim to make the TB-free New Zealand programme more cost-effective and innovative. It says a strong focus has been on identifying the risks and benefits that the AHB's vector control programme poses to non-target species and the natural environment. Work in this area includes the development and analysis of current and potential methods of control.

"It gives me great pleasure to report on what has been an exceptional year for protecting the country from bovine tuberculosis (TB)," says AHB chief executive William McCook.

He says the drop in infected herd numbers to around 80 in 2010-11 is the lowest recorded total since the TB control programme was conceived.

Other milestones for the year include MAF's approval of the revised national pest management strategy and central government's decision to continue providing funding support for the management of bovine TB.

"This support gives the AHB a mandate to continue to control and eventually eradicate the disease from some parts of New Zealand," McCook adds.

"The eradication of TB, and demonstrating how this will be achieved in extensive bush areas, is a major feature of the revised strategy."

The strategy aims to eradicate the disease from wildlife across 2.5 million ha, or one-quarter, of the area known to be inhabited by TB-infected wildlife during the next 15 years. The AHB believes that removing TB from wild animal populations will eventually lead to a reduction in the risk to cattle and deer herds and less TB testing.

"Our focus will remain on delivering an effective programme of possum control, TB testing and livestock movement restrictions," says McCook. "The support and commitment of farmers played a significant role in the success of the TB control programme over the past year."

The AHB formed a relationship with New Zealand Young Farmers in 2010-11 that included the board becoming the main sponsor of the younger farmers' annual conference.

"The development of an ongoing partnership with New Zealand Young Farmers is one opportunity to inform the next generation of herd owners about TB testing requirements and the disease risks around movement and wildlife-related infection," McCook says.

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