Buyers told to act now on cattle declarations

NEW PLYMOUTH - Cattle and deer buyers are being told to ask for animal health declarations now, rather than wait until a new regime is introduced next month.

Starting then, cattle and deer sent for slaughter at food-processing facilities must have a declaration showing whether they have received growth promotants or other treatments.

The certificates must detail whether the current or previous owners treated the animals with growth promotants and if the animals were tagged accordingly.

Vaccinations, drenches, dips, antibiotics and other remedies must also be declared.

From next October a similar declaration will apply to sheep, goats, pigs and horses.

Animal Health Board communications manager Nick Hancox says the board supports meat companies incorporating TB declarations on the same form so farmers will not have to fill out an extra card.

Mr Hancox says farmers sending stock to another herd or to the saleyards will still have to fill out a TB status card.

Federated Farmers says it supports the introduction of the new vendor declaration.

New Zealand Meat and Fibre Producers chairman Chris Lester says store cattle buyers should now be demanding declarations rather than waiting until next month, as those sending cattle for slaughter after December 1 might not be able to find buyers if they cannot provide the declaration.

"Unless the purchasers of store stock insist on receiving relevant information from vendors, they are likely to find they are unable to provide the required assurances when they come to sell those animals to their processing company."

He says store stock buyers will be ill-advised to buy cattle for further fattening without the appropriate declarations.

"The commercial reality is that producers of prime stock will inevitably require store stock vendors to provide relevant information before transactions are confirmed."

- NZPA