TB National Pest Management Strategy

The cost of high levels of Tuberculosis (TB) in New Zealand has previously been estimated as $1.29 billion in lost trade, with the dairy industry being one of the major losers. The control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand is the single largest investment of the Milksolids Levy and has accounted for an average of over $15 million each year.

The project is led by the Animal Health Board whose primary objective is to achieve a herd TB prevalence in all animal herds of 0.2% by June 2013. This means having no more than about 50-60 herds infected with TB at any point in time. Current progress indicates this target will be achieved, possibly ahead of time.

The number of infected dairy herds has dropped from 230 in June 1996 to 55 in June 2007. Dairy farmers have to date been able to leverage significant funding from the Government to achieve this result. In the total absence of any effective control measures, the rate of disease spread is such that after 20 years most animal herds would be infected with TB – about 1.9 million animals. 

The net present value over 30 years of the agricultural industry benefits of the containment or eradication of TB is estimated to be approximately $435 million. In addition there are possible benefits from reducing trade loss of $291 million to $1.3 billion of which the dairy industry would be the greatest benefactor.