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LIC has said that testing the bulls for Mycoplasma bovis is to provide its farmers with greater peace of mind through the dairy mating season.
The farmer-owned co-operative will supply approximately three-quarters of the New Zealand dairy industry’s bull semen during the country’s spring mating period.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has said there is a low risk of transmission via semen, but there are no studies demonstrating that this actually happens in practice.
Concern
Dr Richard Spelman, LIC general manager biological systems, said it is understandable that farmers are concerned about the disease and any risk of transmission through bull semen, but they can have confidence in their co-op.
“Given that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the disease is widespread in New Zealand, we can be confident the disease is not present in our bulls or semen supply, but we are taking extra precautions to provide our farmers with extra reassurance this mating season.
“From a young age, all of our bulls are permanently kept in strict quarantine and are under close veterinary supervision.
“As part of normal practice, collection bulls are regularly monitored for any signs of disease to ensure that semen is only processed from healthy bulls.
“Testing our bulls for the disease will provide the extra peace of mind that many farmers are wanting.”
Hygiene precautions
Following the discovery of Mycoplasma bovis in July, LIC implemented heightened hygiene precautions for staff visiting farms as part of infectious disease protocol and increased quarantine and stock control measures for its bull farms.
Testing of the bulls will start next week, and an extra antibiotic will also be added into the fresh semen diluent, LIC said.
Dr Spelman said that LIC is confident this disease is not present in their bulls, but the additional antibiotic will further safeguard their semen supply without affecting the semen fertility.
He said all bulls which LIC is commercially selling this season and that are on LIC farms will be tested, including the Premier Sires teams, Sire Proving Scheme, SGL and Wagyu.
Results of the tests for the disease are expected in October.
What is Mycoplasma bovis?
Mycoplasma bovis is a disease found in cattle around the world, including Australia, but was only first detected in New Zealand this year.
It is a bacterial disease and does pose a risk to humans. It presents no food safety risk. It spreads from animal to animal through close contact and is not windborne.
Cattle that become affected by the disease will always be carriers of it.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is investigating the cattle disease, which was first found in 170 cows in a dairy herd in South Canterbury in the country.
MPI is working with the farmer to contain the disease to the affected farm and treat the animals showing symptoms. There is no stock movement from the property. Over 15,000 cattle have been tested so far.
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