If your farm is under ‘active surveillance’ in the Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) programme you may be facing challenges around sending stock to grazing, or receiving stock for grazing.
Whilst under active surveillance you are able to move stock. There are ways you can protect your business and your graziers business by considering the following points:
Open communication with your grazier
Clear and open communication with your grazier is vital. Let your grazier know about your situation as soon as you can. This way you can inform them of what it means, and work together to form a plan, using the information below.
Less risk
Less than 5% of farms that are under active surveillance go through to confirmed status. This means that good risk management can still allow you to protect your business and other animals.
Managing multiple mobs
If you have herds from multiple properties or different management groups/mobs, keep these animals separated both on your property and at grazing.
Accurate grazing records are vital
It’s important that there is a grazing plan in place. The plan should outline when stock arrive, what days paddocks were grazed, and any animal health details. This will be a big help if further investigations are needed.
NAIT up to date
NAIT records must be kept up to date - detailing any movements between properties (if your grazing block is at a different NAIT registered location). This will ensure that MPI will only be alerted to your property if the cows are actually there.
Take biosecurity precautions
There are steps you and your grazier can take to help protect your business and stock. This includes double fencing between properties mobs, staggering the use of yards, ensuring boundary fences are secure, to name a few.
Want to talk to someone?
Don’t hesitate to contact us on 0800 4 324 7969. We can put you in touch with our staff on the ground that are working in the M. bovis recovery team. They will be able to help you continue to farm as normally as possible whilst under surveillance or restrictions and support you going forward.
Alternatively you can contact your local DairyNZ consulting officer or Rural Support Trust.
