Dairy power
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.
With docking - or tailing - underway in many areas, Beef+Lamb New Zealand is reminding farmers about the new tail length requirements.
Will Halliday, B+LNZ's senior advisor, animal welfare and biosecurity, says the length of the docked tail must be no shorter than the distal end of the caudal fold. That is the end of the flaps of skin that attach the underside of the tail to the lamb's body.
"This is the absolut minimum length under the new animal welfare regulations, which came into effect in May of this year."
Docking tails shorter than this can lead to an infringement fee of $500.
Halliday says a hot iron or rubber ring are the only methods that can be used to remove tails. He adds that using any other method can lead to a fine of $500.
"It is important farmers ensure their docking or tailing gangs are aware of what is required under the new regulations and the people removing the tails are adhering to that minimum length."
Only lambs under six months can be docked by a farmer or staff - any lambs older than six months must be done by a vet.
Docking a lamb over six months old is an offence with a fine on conviction of up to $3,000.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).