New Zealand Young Farmers help tackle bovine TB

The Animal Health Board (AHB) today addressed agriculture’s youngest and brightest at the TBfree New Zealand Young Farmers annual conference.

AHB Chairman John Dalziell outlined the success and future aims of the country’s world-leading TB control programme at the conference in Masterton.

“We are extremely proud to be involved with New Zealand Young Farmers. The organisation represents the best young talent our sector has to offer,” said Mr Dalziell.

TBfree New Zealand – the AHB-managed TB control programme – is the key sponsor of this year’s conference. Under the programme, infected herd numbers have fallen from more than 1700 in 1994 to fewer than 100 today.

While quite an accomplishment, it means some young farmers and herdowners are unaware of the risks associated with TB and the impact it can have on their businesses.

“As a result, they have never had to deal with the disease in their livestock. But TB is still present in our country. Wild animals, particularly possums, harbour the disease and continue to spread TB to farmed cattle and deer,” said Mr Dalziell.

“Our partnership with New Zealand Young Farmers will help inform this new generation about their TB testing requirements and the disease risks around stock movement and wildlife-related infection.”

New Zealand Young Farmers has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with its membership increasing from 450 in the mid-2000s to nearly 1800 in 2011. The annual conference precedes the ever-popular Young Farmer of the Year contest.

“We all must remain vigilant when it comes to controlling TB. The ability to communicate to young farmers and future agri-business leaders through this forum will help ensure eradicating the disease from New Zealand becomes a reality,” said Mr Dalziell.

Under the revised national TB control strategy, which will take effect from tomorrow (1 July), the AHB aims to eradicate the disease from 2.5 million hectares, or one quarter, of the area of New Zealand known to be at-risk from infected wildlife.

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