ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015

OSPRI | CORE PROGRAMMES 2014/2015
TBfree Programme Report
OSPRI manages bovine TB
in New Zealand through its
TBfree programme. TB can
have devastating effects
on livestock productivity,
farmer livelihoods and, if
uncontrolled, New Zealand’s
ability to sell products into
overseas markets.
The effective delivery of the
National Pest Management Plan
(NPMP) helps to protect the
productivity of our beef, dairy and
deer herds and the reputations of
these billion-dollar industries. The
NPMP has a focus on control of TB
both in livestock and wildlife.
The current strategy of the NPMP
(agreed in 2011) has four goals:
1. Eradicate TB from at least 2.5
million hectares by 2026.
2. Keep areas without TB-infected
wildlife (vector-free areas) free
of TB.
Map 1: Plan for progressive eradication – what we do where
1. TB Eradication
Areas where TB will be eradicated
through intensive possum control,
followed by wild animal surveys
to confirm that TB is no longer
present.
2. TB-Free Area Protection
Areas where possum numbers will
be kept at low levels to prevent
wildlife spreading TB into clear
areas or areas working towards
eradication. These areas act as
buffer zones.
4. Proof of Concept Areas
Areas where we’re trialling
different control methodologies,
followed by intensive wildlife
surveillance, to prove that
eradication is possible in deep
bush areas and that these methods
can be used on a wider scale.
3. Keep infected herd numbers as
low as possible.
4. Prove that eradication is possible
in two challenging proof of
concept areas.
Map 1 shows the strategy as it’s
applied across New Zealand.
3. Infected Herd Suppression
Areas where TB is still known
to occur and where it is not yet
feasible to eradicate the disease.
Targeted possum control will
be carried out to minimise TB
infection in cattle and deer herds.
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