According to this week’s figures, an all-time low of 36 herds, made up of 34 cattle and two deer herds, are infected with bovine TB.

Farmers, industry and Government partners working hand-in-hand with OSPRI have collaboratively made the programme one of the world’s leading TB control schemes, says Michelle.

“While this is a significant milestone, we know our focus on managing numbers of infected herds during the season where finishing stock heading to the processing works needs to remain vigilant.”

An independent review of the TBfree programme has recently been completed. This process included scientific modelling, a review of operational outcomes and a public consultation process facilitated by the plan governance group comprising industry shareholders and independent chair, Chris Kelly. 

A final proposal is to be presented to the Minister of Primary Industries for review and approval at the end of September. It will be OSPRI’s role as the appointed management agency to implement the outcomes of the review and to continue working with partners, wider industry and the community towards eradicating TB from livestock by 2026 and from wildlife by 2055.

Currently the main aim of the TB programme is to eradicate TB from possums and other wildlife across 2.5 million hectares of New Zealand’s at-risk areas by 2026.

The review of the national TB Plan found that OSPRI’s TBfree programme is well ahead of its targets with more than 1.2 million hectares already eradicated. The programme’s ‘proof of concept’ areas have demonstrated that the disease can successfully be eradicated.

Michelle says “There’s still a lot of work to be done but we’re excited about the direction that the plan review is moving with the goal of achieving eradication more quickly and at a lower cost. This is good news for industry and provides further proof of New Zealand’s animal health status for international trading partners.”

Consultation on the review closed in July after a large number of submissions and significant feedback from workshops around the country.  Further details of the review and a wide range of supporting information, including an independent scientific review, can be found at tbplanreview.co.nz