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Home / Waikato News

M. bovis fears rule out calves at Waikato A&P shows

Te Awamutu Courier
17 Jul, 2018 04:30 AM3 mins to read

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Flashback to last century: We have been covering local Calf Club group days in our rural papers for decades - this year will be the first without calves. Photos / Archives

Flashback to last century: We have been covering local Calf Club group days in our rural papers for decades - this year will be the first without calves. Photos / Archives

It's going to be a calf club without calves.

Calves have been given the boot from pet days around the New Zealand this year, thanks to Mycoplasma bovis.

In the Waikato, calves won't be invited to the A&P Show on Friday, October 26.

It is recommended group days and school events follow suit.

Waikato King Country Boys and Girls Agricultural Group chairman Alan Henderson, a dairy farmer in Paterangi, said the decision was made to support MPI and the dairy industry in the eradication and management control of Mycoplasma bovis.

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Goats and lambs would still be welcome in the Waikato A&P Show, he said.

"We're hoping there'll be an increase in numbers of lambs and goats entered, with people still wanting to enjoy the benefits of raising an animal."

Alan said biosecurity measures would also be made at the show.

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The changes come following recommendations from DairyNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

DairyNZ technical policy advisor Nita Harding said mixing young animals and returning them to their home farm was not worth the risk.

"We recommended that, while the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is underway, schools and those managing calf days look for alternatives to calf day.

"It could become a 'pet day' with other pets and animals, or you could use technology to provide an innovative compromise."

To the groups choosing to still carry out calf club days, DairyNZ and MPI recommend:

* Calves from farms under movement restrictions will not be allowed to come to school, and children from these farms should be allowed to bring an alternative pet.

* Some farmers will not want calves from their farms going to school and returning home, and an alternative pet should be allowed under these circumstances.

* All calves (and other animals) coming to school must be healthy on the day of the calf club. If in doubt leave them at home.

* All calves must be correctly identified with National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) tags.

* All animals must arrive clean with no mud or faecal material on the animal's coat or feet.

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* All children and adults must come with clean footwear and clothing. Footwear should be cleaned and disinfected before returning home.

* Each calf must have its own halter and lead rope (and these are not to be shared with other calves), drinking bowl or container and feeding bottle or bucket.

* Calves should be kept separated as much as possible.

* Children should be encouraged not to handle each other's calves without washing or sanitising hands between calves. This is particularly so if children's fingers have been inside a calf's mouth. Care should also be taken to prevent calves sucking clothing.

* Judges should sanitise their hands after handling each calf, and calves should be prevented from mouthing clothing.

* If milk is brought from the farm for feeding calves, this milk must only be fed to the calf from that farm — not to any other calves. Use milk replacer if there is a concern about milk.

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