The Animal Health Board manages and implements the National Pest Management Strategy for Bovine Tuberculosis in New Zealand.
The strategy was approved by government in 1998 and a revised strategy came into effect on 1 July 2011. It provides for measures to control tuberculosis (TB) in cattle and deer herds.
The primary objective of the strategy is to keep the number of TB-infected cattle and deer herds in New Zealand low and eradicate the disease from wildlife in 2.5 million hectares - or one quarter - of high TB risk areas, also known as Vector Risk Areas (VRAs).
TB-infected wild animals are known to inhabit these high-risk areas, which cover nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand.
The primary objectives of the strategy are to:
1. Establish the feasibility of the eradication of endemic TB from wildlife populations across a representative range of New Zealand terrains by achieving:
a. Eradication of TB from vector (wildlife that can carry TB) populations in two extensive forest areas representing relatively difficult operational terrain containing vector infection.
b. Continued freedom from wildlife infection in areas where TB is considered to have been eradicated from wildlife populations.
2. By 30 June 2026, to have eradicated TB from wild animal populations from at least 2.5 million hectares of TB Vector Risk Area, including the areas in (1) (a) above, with consequent reclassification of this land as TB Vector Free Area (VFA).
3. Prevent the establishment of TB in possum populations in Vector Free Areas during the term of the proposed strategy.
The secondary objective of the strategy is to:
4. Maintain the national TB infected herd annual period prevalence (the number of infected livestock over a certain time period) at the lowest possible level while achieving the primary objectives, and at no greater than 0.4 per cent throughout the term of the proposed strategy.
The following assumptions have been made in determining the objectives of the National Pest Management Strategy:
1. The information gathered in 2008 is relevant for the current situation.
2. Funding for the strategy was established in 2001 and has no adjustment for inflation over the whole life of the strategy.
3. Funding for vector control operations (including management and wildlife survey) remains constant at $50.9 million per year for the term of the strategy.
4. Funding for On-Farm Services will decrease over time and is based on a projected reduction in TB testing, based on current prices.
5. The continued ability to use all current disease and vector control technologies and methods.