Castleisland man to the fore for farmers in New Zealand
MINISTRY for Primary Industries chief science adviser, Dr John Roche, in an article in the Rural News in New Zealand believes that the country is winning its fight against the bacterium, Mycoplasma bovis.
This can cause a range of serious conditions in cattle including mastitis that doesn’t respond to treatment, pneumonia, arthritis, and late-term abortions.
While Dr. Roche’s article deals specifically with his post in New Zealand, the condition is a concern for farmers and the industry worldwide.
Dr. Roche is a native of Firie, Castleisland and a son of Johnnie and Sheila.
The Rural News appears to be the NZ equivelant of The Farmers’ Journal in Ireland as its slogan proclaims: To All Farmers – For All Farmers.
Dr. Roche, while addressing farmers looking to him in their time of strife, made an oblique but reassuring reference to the situation on the farm he grew up on here at home in Firie:
‘As the son of a dairy farmer that built his herd from scratch, I feel for them. However, as someone who’s dealt with this disease overseas, I’ve seen first-hand what happens in an outbreak – incurable mastitis and seemingly healthy calves dying overnight – and I wouldn’t want New Zealand farmers having to deal with that into the future.’
“Overall, up to $30 million has been set aside for priority science to help accelerate eradication of M. Bovis and prevent another incursion,” Dr. Roche continued.
“We’re investing that money in areas identified as priorities by experts, including vets, scientists, industry and government.
“The research includes projects to better understand how the disease spreads under different New Zealand farming systems and the social and economic impacts of the eradication on farmers and rural communities.
“Being first isn’t always easy. However, I want to assure you that we’re confronting the challenge of being the first country in the world to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis with the best science and people – and, we are winning,” he confidently concluded.