Page 12 - Vol.38-No.2

ANIMAL HEALTH

NEW ZEALAND FARMING RELIES ON SMALL BUT

VITAL INDUSTRY, REPORT SAYS

One disease that can be contracted
by people via dairy cattle is Leptospi-
rosis. New Zealanders had one of the
highest incidences of this bacterial dis-
ease in the developed world. When a
vaccination programme for dairy cattle
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cases of the disease more than halved
– from 11 to 4.5 incidents per 100,000
people, the report highlights.
By vaccinating cows, dairy milkers
and meatworkers are protected from
Mark Ross contracting the disease, as it is trans-
ferred from animal to person through
Leaders of New Zealand’s sheep-and- contact with urine from an infected
beef, pork, poultry, and dairy industries animal.
say that animal medicines are critical Without vaccines or other preventa-
for their industries to function. With- tives, New Zealand chicken farming
out medicines, these farming industries would be uneconomic and chicken
would lose a combined total of NZ$ broilers would need much more space of colony cages, barn or free-range
12.68 billion. This equates to almost 30 to maintain productivity. The worst systems. This changes the types of
times the value of the country’s animal threat to chicken health is the parasit- diseases and ailments that birds face.
medicines industry - estimated at NZ$ ic disease coccidiosis, which can kill The animal health industry is working
430 million, according to a report by one in 10 birds. Preventing the disease RQ VROXWLRQV VSHFLÞFDOO\ IRU IUHH UDQJH
KPMG and Agcarm. costs up to 10c per bird, but its impact is systems in response.
New Zealand’s poultry industry valued at between NZ$ 4.8 to 12 million.
By offering essential tools to protect
is the most heavily reliant on animal Without medicines, New Zealand animals from diseases and parasites,
medicines, which contributes NZ$ 800 would not produce enough afforda- the animal health industry alleviates
million to a one-billion-dollar industry. ble, high quality safe chicken to meet animal suffering, preserves life, and
Dairy and sheep-and-beef farms rely the appetites of its people - who eat an ensures that animals don’t pass them
on animal health products for up to 40 average of 40 kg each per year, with onto their owners or other animals. It
percent of their productivity. chicken breast being the second-most KDV VRPH HQYLURQPHQWDO EHQHÞWV WRR
By preventing disease in animals, affordable source of protein.
With New Zealand focussed on re-
people are prevented from contract- Battery cages are being phased out ducing its agricultural emissions, part
ing diseases too. in New Zealand this year in favour of the effort involves relieving animals
from ill health. Healthy animals pro-
duce more with less, whereas sick
animals still create waste and need
food and water. Caring for animals
and treating them early supports sus-
tainable farming and food security as
it ensures the availability of healthy
protein with fewer resources.
The industry’s contribution to the
economy is small, but it’s impact on
productive farming, keeping animals
and people healthy, and supporting en-
vironmental initiatives is much broader.
• Mark Ross is chief executive of
Agcarm, the industry association for
companies which manufacture and
distribute crop protection and animal
health products.

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