NZ farmer co-operative, Livestock Improvement, today responded to the EU’s intention to ban importation of semen from bulls vaccinated against the bovine disease, IBR, saying it is disappointing but will cause minimal impact to its bottom line.
(New Zealand Artificial Breeding companies have, until now, been able to export semen from dairy sires vaccinated against Infective Bovine Rhinootracheitis (IBR) ).
Chief Executive, Stuart Gordon, said IBR is an endemic disease in cattle found in many of the dairying nations of the world. "The strain we have here (BHV-1.2b) does not cause abortions, unlike the more virulent strains found in Ireland and UK.
"Nonetheless it is a problem, and all countries take precautions appropriate to the level of impact.
"In New Zealand, artificial breeding companies vaccinate their bulls against the disease. This compared with the EU where artificial breeding companies do not vaccinate their bulls, and house them in sophisticated, isolated quarantine bull barns.
"All Livestock Improvement bulls are vaccinated against IBR with dead vaccines. Each bull has to deliver two negative blood tests for IBR before it is vaccinated and allowed onto the Semen Collection Centre.
"In addition, all bulls collected on-centre have routine bi-annual IBR virus isolation tests on semen.
"We’ve conducted this semen testing for many years and never had an on-centre bull positive with IBR virus.
"There is now a new test available to detect IBR virus, called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), which is generally regarded as the most sensitive IBR test in the world. It is available in New Zealand but, because it has not been used in routine diagnostics, it must be scientifically validated by international laboratories before acceptance by the EU. Livestock Improvement supports this action."
Stuart Gordon said Livestock Improvement’s Irish and UK business is profitable. "Demand for New Zealand Genetics is growing, and there is potential for it to be a significant market for us.
"Irish and UK farmers want New Zealand Genetics and we’re certainly keen to grow the business, however we will not compromise the disease status of our bulls in New Zealand by changing to the European system. Our case rests on convincing them that the PCR testing provides the assurance they need to allow semen imports to continue.
"In the meantime, Livestock Improvement has sufficient stocks of semen in Ireland and the UK to meet the demands of their farmers for at least two years," he said.
For more information contact Livestock Improvement's Communication Manager, Clare Bayly, Ph 07 856 0922/027 499 8862, cbayly@lic.co.nz
Note:New Zealand’s Ministry of Agriculture and the National Centre for Disease Investigation, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) , has put a plan in place to achieve validation of the PCR test. This will involve the help of several international laboratories. The validation will be presented at an OIE meeting in May 2006.
