Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare

Animals play a key role in many New Zealanders' lives

They offer food and fibre, income and education, and New Zealanders have elevated expectations that animals under human care are well looked after. Our farmers have a powerful reputation that has secured access to international markets – something the NZ economy relies on. However, this is not always the case.  

Some farmers become overwhelmed and dis-stressed and resort to anger - lashing out or hitting the animals requiring local vet/SPCA/MPI become involved.  

Buying or selling calves? 

To ensure they can be traced, you must tag, and register in NAIT all newborn calves within 180 days of birth or before they first move off your farm — whichever comes first.
 

If you're buying calves

Confirm with the seller:

  • that they have completed an Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form — you'll receive this at the point of sale
  • that the calves are tagged and registered in NAIT
  • what their TB status is.

When the calves arrive on your property, you need to:

  • read their NAIT tag numbers, visually or with a scanner
  • confirm the receiving movement in NAIT within 48 hours, or create the receiving movement if the sender hasn't.

If you're selling calves

Before you send your calves off-farm, make sure they're tagged correctly and registered in NAIT. Calves usually have NAIT birth tags — using these in numerical order will make it easier to enter them in NAIT.

Buying tags

All calves must be:

  • tagged and registered before they are 180 days old or before they move off your farm for the first time — whichever comes first
  • registered in NAIT within 7 days of being tagged.

It's an offence not to tag and register your calves unless they are exempt from tagging. For example, bobby calves going directly to slaughter from the property they were born on don't need to be tagged. If they move to another property then you must tag and register them first.

Registering animals in NAIT

You also need to:

  • find out the NAIT location number of the buyer
  • prepare an ASD, which includes information about the TB status of your animals
  • create a sending movement in NAIT, within 48 hours of the day they were sent (if you're not selling through an accredited saleyard).

Selling through a saleyard

If you sell calves through an accredited saleyard they will create the sending movement in NAIT on your behalf. You must still make sure the calves are tagged and registered.

Selling to a meat processor

Bobby calves moved direct to slaughter are exempt from NAIT requirements to tag and register. Check with your meat processor about their requirements for accepting bobby calves.

Find an accredited organisation

Below are links to resources that support good husbandry. If you would like a Farmer Facilitator to work and support you in-confidence please contact your local trust.

Check out some useful articles about animal welfare:

Rural mental health cases spike in Southland - Story by Federated Farmers in the Farmers Weekly

Rural mental health cases spike in Southland - Story by Federated Farmers in the Farmers Weekly

A combination of financial pressures, flooding, employment issues and isolation took a toll on Southland farmers’ mental health at the end 2023.   Southland Rural Support Trust...
January 12, 2024 0 Comments
Commence the Re-Fence Campaign - Gift a Tractor!

Commence the Re-Fence Campaign - Gift a Tractor!

Federated Farmers are proud to be supporting an inspiring initiative called "Commence the Re-Fence" in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabriele, which has been launched to provide support to...
December 11, 2023 0 Comments
Tailing without pain at workshop for farmers - Story by Joanna Grigg, Farmers Weekly

Tailing without pain at workshop for farmers - Story by Joanna Grigg, Farmers Weekly

Vet Marlborough runs a farmer accreditation day to train clients in the use of pain relief for docking and castration.

October 1, 2023 0 Comments
Transporting Animals in late Pregnancy

Transporting Animals in late Pregnancy

The Ministry for Primary Industries has advised they will have a greater focus on the transport of pregnant stock this season, specifically when stock give birth in the stock truck or in the stock...
August 15, 2023 0 Comments
DairyNZ offering one-on-one help

DairyNZ offering one-on-one help

DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle told Dairy News they have been busy updating all the material they have to help farmers through the coming weeks and months.

March 8, 2023 0 Comments
NAIT timeframes extended for farmers affected by heavy rain and flooding in the North Island

NAIT timeframes extended for farmers affected by heavy rain and flooding in the North Island

We have extended the timeframes for updating NAIT to help ease some of the pressure on farmers and other People in Charge of Animals (PICAs).

March 7, 2023 0 Comments
Managing Flystrike and Lice

Managing Flystrike and Lice

Effective prevention and treatment of flystrike and lice involves a multi-pronged approach. This booklet aims to provide you with the detail you need to: a) Understand the pests’...
February 12, 2023 0 Comments
Checked your crops for Fall Armyworm?

Checked your crops for Fall Armyworm?

The insect pest, fall armyworm has been reported in the North and South Islands, and with further spread likely, knowing how to identify and manage this pest can do a lot to help protect our...
January 29, 2023 0 Comments
Invest in your Wellbeing Bank Account for 2023

Invest in your Wellbeing Bank Account for 2023

This time of the year is a great time to think about how you could improve your investments into your 'Wellbeing Bank Account' for 2023.

January 13, 2023 0 Comments
Need Internet?

Need Internet?

The Remote Users Scheme allows eligible households and communities in the most remote areas - where broadband is not currently available and there is only access to voice calling and...
December 19, 2022 0 Comments
Transporting farm & hunting dogs across Cook Strait

Transporting farm & hunting dogs across Cook Strait

With 4.5 hours between checking in and disembarking, keeping your dogs safe and comfortable requires planning and appropriate carrying facilities - especially on a hot sunny...
November 14, 2022 0 Comments
Testing for Mycoplasma Bovis stepped up with new strain

Testing for Mycoplasma Bovis stepped up with new strain

The discovery of a new strain was made through regular bulk milk tank testing, which is evidence our highly sensitive system is working well. MPI will continue with fortnightly bulk milk tank...
October 7, 2022 0 Comments
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