NZ sheep genetics into Australia barred
Changes to importing rules for sheep and goat embryos and semen have barred some farmers from exporting to Australia, but improved the availability of new genetics for others.
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) issued revised import protocols in 2015 for sheep and goat embryos and semen, which allows New Zealand’s sheep and goat industries to access new genetics more readily than in the past.
However, those changes have impacted breeders wanting to export genetics to Australia.
Following the release of the MPI import health standard, Australian authorities introduced new measures for importing sheep and goat germplasm and barred the importing of new genetics from New Zealand to avoid the risk of scrapie, a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous system of sheep and goats.
Lawrence suffolk breeder Symon Howard said changes to the importing standards were directly related to the decision by Landcorp to begin sheep milking and bring in genetics from overseas.
‘‘At the end of the day Landcorp is owned by the government, so the government is shafting everyone else.’’
Two years ago an Australian farmer bought half shares in a Howard ram and had used genetics from it to produce his own rams in Australia.
If he wanted more semen, he would now be unable to get it into Australia, Howard said.
‘‘They bought the ram two years ago in good faith thinking they could take semen whenever they wanted, but now they can’t.’’
Australia will accept sheep and goat genetics collected, stored and processed before May last year, when the protocol for the new import health standards kicked in.
A MPI spokesperson said the import health standard was based on international standards under the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) which were aimed at managing scrapie risk in sheep and goat germplasm.
‘‘We also undertook our own scientific analysis, which found negligible risk from the transmission of scrapie in this germplasm. As further protection, we’ve imposed extra safeguards on imported genetic material.’’
Donors needed to come from either a certified scrapie-free country or from donors that were scrapie-free or had been tested for genotypes that proved resistant to scrapie, the spokesperson said.
MPI had been in contact with Australian authorities on their new measures, and set up a working group of New Zealand exporters last year to find ways to keep trade flowing.
‘‘We understand Australian authorities are currently undertaking further risk analysis for imports of sheep and goat germplasm.’’
New Zealand Sheep Breeders’ Association president and Owaka farmer Jim Berney said there were two sides to the story - it was positive for breeders wanting genetics from the United Kingdom and Europe, but potentially negative for farmers wanting to export to Australia.
New Zealand sheep breeders who were likely to be most detrimentally affected were suffolk, corriedale and merino breeders. Yet it was a positive development for the likes of oxford breeders who would now have access to new genetics, he said.
‘‘It’s a catch-22 thing and I think every breeder will have to take it on their own merit.’’
Berney said the protocols for importing genetics would have to be tight to ensure scrapie did not make its way to New Zealand.
There was a feeling among farmers that because the government owned Landcorp, it was getting more benefit from the change in protocols, he said.
‘‘It seems a shame that one entity can get an advantage over others.’’