OSPRI reveals NAIT tag research findings
OSPRI has announced research findings on National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) tags, to determine whether the tags used in New Zealand are degenerating due to climatic factors in various parts of the country. This was in response to customer and industry concern that the current tags in use may not be fit for purpose in the New Zealand farming environment.
OSPRI’s Head of Traceability Kevin Forward highlighted the importance of this year-long investigation, which was conducted by Callaghan Innovation. "Tag retention was the number one concern farmers express on issues affecting livestock traceability - part of that concern was a perception that tags were falling out earlier than would have been expected."
"Based on research results of our international partners, and the lack of comparative research in New Zealand, we needed to determine whether the chemical make-up of the tags was a contributing factor."
OSPRI at Fieldays 2022
It was a busy four days at Mystery Creek this year, and the team was more than happy to showcase and assist with sign-ups for our new online customer portal - MyOSPRI, as well as help with any NAIT and TBfree queries that event goers needed assistance with.
Our Chief Executive Steve Stuart and other members of the OSPRI Board were also at the stand, talking to farmers and helping with queries.
The daily scanner prize draw proved popular once again with a lot of entries in the draw - well done to the lucky winners!
Thank you to everyone who visited our stand and took the time to talk and share experiences with our team, we really enjoyed meeting you all.
Send electronic ASDs this summer!
This processing season, why not ditch the paper and use MyOSPRI to send electronic ASDs? Sign up today and join over 11,000 farmers who can see the benefits of sending electronic ASDs. We've currently got 18 meat processors across New Zealand signed up to receive electronic ASDs.
MPI explains why traceability is important to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis
Almost halfway into a 10-year eradication programme, the M. bovis Programme partners the Ministry for Primary Industries, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand are working alongside the farming community to detect remaining pockets of infection.
One of the most effective tools in this journey is the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) programme – NAIT records are used to identify cattle which have been on an infected property.
Inaccurate NAIT records slow efforts to detect potential infection. This means that failure to use NAIT has in many cases meant that other farms have been placed under movement controls and testing, or have cattle that have become infected, than would have occurred if suppliers’ NAIT records had been complete and accurate.
Other farmers and the industry need everyone to play their part in protecting us all.
For more information on M. bovis, you can visit the MPI website by following the link below.