Bovine TB strategy review submissions

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 NZ'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 reports Scoop. 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 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.