Page 79 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Industry Focus

Disease highlights

benefits of buying

registered bulls

THE DISCOVERY OF MYCOPLASMA BOVIS IN
NEW ZEALAND HAS BEEN A TOPICAL ISSUE AND CAUSE FOR CONCERN
AMONG ALL FARMERS, SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON BIOSECURITY PRACTICES

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TRACEABILITY. THE DISEASE HAS WIDER

IMPLICATIONS FOR SHOWING CATTLE AND SELLING BULLS,
BUT THERE ARE SOME POSITIVES FOR HEREFORD BREEDERS.

WORDS REBECCA HARPER PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED

MYCOPLASMA BOVIS has highlighted the benefits of buying MYCOPLASMA BOVIS SITUATION AS OF 1 MARCH 2019
ST
registered bulls from a known and safe source.
Many studs have felt the impact of M. bovis, and cattle North Is. South Is. 15 Dairy Farms
showing has taken a hit, along with the cancellation of traditional 15 Beef Farms
calf club days. But there are ways to move forward, with the 6 24 Infected Properties (IPs) 0 Other Farm
correct processes in place and employing some creative thinking. Properties under Restricted Place Notice
NZ Hereford Association (NZHA) general manager Posy Moody 14 53 (Note: includes Infected Properties)
said the impact of M. bovis on Hereford studs very much reflected 69 97 Properties under Notice of Direction
the national impact of M. bovis on farming in New Zealand generally.
“Some areas, and therefore some studs within the regions 171 279 Properties under active surveillance
containing the highest focus of affected farms, have had their
sales impacted upon. However, the majority of registered
Hereford studs, which either have closed herds or have sold WHAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME?
yearling bulls, have not been affected, since they have been
viewed by commercial farmers as a ‘safe bet’,” she said. 83,011 Animals have been culled
Prior to the spring sales, the association ran an advertising 66 Properties with IP status removed
campaign marketing ‘buy safe and buy registered’. This
campaign promoted the many breeders who bred and sold 489 Properties released from movement restrictions
yearling bulls at on-farm sales and therefore the animals had
had no contact with the outside world. 291,814 Tests completed (milk, blood, swab & tonsil tests)
“As an association, we continue to encourage breeders to
follow good biosecurity practices. Measuring and recording for ST
breeders is an important part of their farming practice, so to put COMPENSATION TO 1 MARCH 2019
a few more policies in place has been an easy transition for the 761 Claims received by
majority,” Moody said. Ministry for Primary Industries
NZHA president Colin Corney said the key message to 482 Claims completed or with part payments
breeders was to take basic steps to protect your own farm in
terms of biosecurity. $57.9 million Value of claims assessed
“A number of dairy farms have taken the initiative to have
wash stations. One good option, and something I have done on $48.4 million Value of claims paid
my own farm, is to have a map of your farm and mark green, 1 Claims pending payment
blue and red regions.
“The gateway to our house is a green zone, for example, Information from “Mycoplasma Bovis Update”, 1st March 2019
anyone can come and go. The blue zone has a wash down area infographic, Ministry for Primary Industries.
to protect animals coming and going from the property, and red
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