Submissions called for bovine TB strategy review

News release

30 September 2009

Submissions called for bovine TB strategy review

Proving that bovine TB can be eradicated from possums, as well as from cattle and deer, is the thrust of an Animal Health Board proposal to amend New Zealand’s bovine TB strategy.

The Minister of Agriculture has today announced a review of the strategy. The review will set the direction of the TB strategy for the next 15 years. 

AHB Chairman John Dalziell says the proposal was prepared by the Animal Health Board, in consultation with strategy funders.

He said that although the current TB strategy is exceeding expectations for reducing the number of TB-infected herds in New Zealand, the underlying problem of infection in possums still presents a threat.

“Bovine TB is still present in possums across nearly 40% of New Zealand. Cattle and deer herds in these areas remain exposed to the risk of infection from contact with infected possums, and herd infection rates would climb rapidly if possum control was stopped.”

Mr Dalziell says the risk of disease resurgence can only be removed if TB can be eradicated from possums and other wildlife in at-risk areas. 

“For this reason we are proposing a change in emphasis in the national TB strategy. Rather than focusing primarily on the number of infected herds, we aim to prove the feasibility of eradicating TB from wildlife over large areas.”

These areas would include large tracts of heavily forested hill-country where eradication is likely to be most challenging, and over a 15-year period would target about 25% of the total area where TB is present in possums.

Mr Dalziell says that if this can be achieved, then it would provide confidence that TB could be totally eradicated from further large areas of New Zealand, or even all of New Zealand, under future strategies.

The AHB proposal describes TB as “a disease of farmed cattle and deer which,

if left unchecked, would lead to serious production losses and might harm New Zealand’s reputation as a supplier of high-quality beef, dairy and venison products. The main cause of TB in New Zealand cattle and deer herds is contact with TB-infected possums”.

The cost of implementing the current strategy is approximately $82 million per year, funded by Government, the beef, dairy and deer farming sectors, and regional contributions. AHB proposes that current funding levels be continued, subject to five-yearly review.             

The control of infection in farmed cattle and deer herds is also covered. Mr Dalziell says the proposal includes some changes to herd testing and livestock movement control policies to reduce the risk of herd-to-herd transmission, which over time would reduce the need for herd TB testing in areas of low disease risk.  

“While there is a focus on eradicating TB from possums, it is also important that we have effective herd testing and movement control in place to prevent herd-to-herd infection and keep infected herd numbers at a level which avoids significant production losses and safeguards against any possible market access risk.”

A copy of the proposal document is available at www.tbfree.org.nz

Submissions on the proposal may be made in writing to the Minister of Agriculture. The address for submissions is:

Minister of Agriculture

c/- MAF Biosecurity New Zealand

PO Box 2526

Attn: Belita Pereira

Or by email to belita.pereira@maf.govt.nz

The closing date for submissions is 30 November 2009.

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