LIC sorry, offers compensation for bad sire semen
Herd Improvement company LIC has apologised to dairy farmers and is offering financial compensation to those impacted by a bad batch of sire semen.
A Pukekohe deer farmer was recently fined $12,000 for not tagging 278 animals under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.
Under the NAIT scheme all cattle or deer must be fitted with a tag and registered in the system by the time the animal is 180 days old, or before the animal is moved off farm.
Late last month, Lester Harrison Nixon was sentenced in the Papakura District Court on two charges under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act, following a successful prosecution by Ministry for Primary Industries.
“NAIT tags are there to track and trace animals.
“They play a critical role in helping to ensure we can respond quickly and accurately in the event of a biosecurity incursion,” explained MPI acting national manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Brendon Mikkelsen.
“When people in charge of animals disregard their NAIT obligations they put the whole agricultural sector at risk.”
MPI said it made inquiries with Nixon about outstanding animal movements on his NAIT account in 2021. He has three properties registered in the NAIT database.
“We found Mr Nixon had made little effort to comply with the NAIT system, advising us that he does not tag his deer until just before they’re transported,” MPI reported. “He said he does not register the tags and that he had farmed for over 30 years without it (NAIT).”
During a search of one of Nixon’s properties where he had NAIT animals grazing, MPI found 132 deer not fitted with a NAIT tag and at another of his properties, a further 146 deer were also not fitted with tags.
In 2019, penalties in the NAIT Act increased tenfold to $100,000 for an individual, and up to $200,000 for a body corporate.
Mikkelsen says while receiving one of these penalties could hurt the bottom line for people in charge of animals, the inability to trace animals can have far reaching and serious consequences for everyone.
“The NAIT tag and registration system is only as effective as the information entered in. If you are unsure about what you need to do, reach out,” he added. “There is plenty of information, advice and support available.”
A calf born at a Waikato Holstein Friesian stud has stunned her owner with her incredibly high credentials – surpassing his hope that she was going to be one out of the box.
Genetics may be one of the tools Fonterra farmers can tap into to reduce on farm emissions, according to LIC.
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay plans to visit India in the next fortnight, his first trade mission since the formation of the Government.
Australia's largest dairy co-operative Norco is back making ice cream, 18 months after a catastrophic flood destroyed its manufacturing plant.
Danish dairy co-operative Arla Foods is accelerating sustainability efforts on farm to help customers achieve their reduction targets for scope 3 emissions targets.
While New Zealand seems to be treading water on the subject of pricing emissions and the future of He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), pending a new government, the Netherlands has been clearer on its proposed farm buy-out scheme, as part of its effort to reduce nitrogen emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
OPINION: This old mutt understands that a number of high profile sheep studs are unhappy with Beef+ Lamb Genetics’ recent…
OPINION: Your canine crusader is astounded at the sheer cojones of webbased media company Newsroom and its wont to cadge…