Quarantine timing

Even if you have one cow, there are good reasons why it needs a NAIT tag.

Ross’ tips to developing your intuition

It’s important to run a critical gaze over your stock, every day, in the same way you automatically check fences, gates, and water troughs. As you get to know your animals over time, you develop a feel for their usual demeanour and behaviour.

Apply the same stock observation skills that you use to assess your stock’s health and wellbeing to any you’re considering buying. Do they look healthy and robust? Do they have a bright eye? Are they in good condition with a curious, bright demeanour?

Pigs: 6-8 weeks.

Poultry: 6 weeks, drench every two weeks.

Sheep: at least 4 weeks.

Cattle: at least 4 weeks.

Goats: at least 4 weeks.

Horses: at least 3 weeks.

Marnie Rutherford knows the one cow she owns is never leaving her block.

When she’s the right size, Marnie plans to homekill her, but her cow still has a compulsory National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) tag clipped into its ear.

The NAIT scheme allows for the rapid and accurate tracing of individual livestock, from birth to death, or live export.

“From my experience, most lifestylers are aware of NAIT but may be unsure if it applies to them, and what they need to do about it,” says Marnie.

She started the Wairarapa Smallholders Group to help local block owners become better equipped and informed about managing animals.

“Animals on small blocks are often destined for homekill or used for paddock management, so may never leave the property at all. As they’re not part of the commercial food chain, recording them (in the NAIT system) may not be seen as a necessity.”

She says the importance of recording livestock movements doesn’t seem that significant to some lifestylers.

“I think the ease livestock diseases can spread by animal contact through fences is underestimated. It might be as simple as lice, or something much more costly like Mycoplasma bovis, but it’s up to you to take responsibility and look out for your animals and neighbours, even if you only have one cow.” ■