September 6, 2006

New Zealand company comes up with cheaper test for livestock virus

A cheaper version of a livestock test for bovine viral diarrhoea could save the dairy and beef industries in New Zealand millions of dollars, Livestock Improvement, a biotech company specialising in dairy herd improvement said.

Bovine viral diarrhoea affects animal productivity and can cause death.

Previously, to test the disease, farmers had to submit a blood sample, which cost NZ$10 (US$6.50) per animal, with further testing necessary if the disease was discovered.

Livestock Improvement said with its new test kit at NZ$6.95 (US$4.50), cattle can now be tested more cheaply. The test detects the virus genes in blood,

Diagnostics manager Simon Yarrow said economies of scale meant the company was able to offer one-cost testing.

Most New Zealand cattle herds are affected by the virus at some point, with more than 60 percent showing evidence of recent infection.

The company said farmers should not allow untested bulls, calves or other animals on to the farm so as to avoid the expense of raising unproductive animals, Yarrow said.

Natural mating, with service or run bulls, is the norm on beef farms and for a portion of the dairy mating season. Testing both groups of animals is an investment which pays forward in potentially reduced fertility and productivity issues, the company said.