Up to 60% of farmers are failing to record National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme (Nait) farm-to-farm movements, and Ospri is planning a push to encourage more farmers to be compliant, the organisation's programme design and farm operation group manager, Dr Stu Hutchings, says
Ospri (Operational Solutions for Primary Industries - formerly called Tbfree) and Nait operate under the same umbrella.
Dr Hutchings said while nearly 100% of stock movements to and from saleyards and meat processors were recorded - by saleyard operators or meatworks staff on behalf of their clients - initial data collected suggested only about 40% of farmers were recording stock movements from farm to farm.
He said recent surveys indicated that farmers had a high level of awareness of Nait requirements and that in some areas there had been significant improvement in the numbers of animals tagged and registered.
The Ospri contact centre handled about 16,000 calls to or from farmers monthly, including calls by staff to remind farmers to record and register movements and to complete pending movements as well as covering Tb-free requirements.
''It is the responsibility of farmers themselves to make sure movements are recorded,'' Dr Hutchings said.
''It is a really important aspect of the whole system.''
He said Nait would be launching a media campaign shortly to raise awareness among farmers, encourage them to make data recording part of their daily routine, and enhance their understanding as to why it was so important.
If there was a disease outbreak, such as Tb, or a biosecurity incursion, the information gained from the Nait data would be invaluable in tracing movements of stock, which might be infected, as well as identifying disease sources.
If, for example, a farmer used a product for Theileria tick disease treatment, which required an 18-month withholding period, or products to promote hormonal growth, which were not allowed into certain markets, the Nait data made record keeping and identification much easier.
Farmers would also benefit from the programme as part of their recording systems for measuring and recording genetic breeding worth, growth rates, parentages and grazing records.
Nait's data also provided food safety benefits.
''Recording the information was really important to New Zealand Inc.''
Ospri staff were working with rural retailers and to make access to tag scanners easier. Some information providers such as stock transport companies also provided the service of scanning animals prior to movement for farmers and assisting in the recording of movements.
They were also working with scanner manufacturers to redesign them to be simpler to use, cheaper, and more robust.
''There is a smart phone app out now so that farmers can scan the tags with the scanners and then upload the data by Bluetooth through their smart phone to their accounts.''
He said the Ospri contact centre also helped farmers upload their data.
By July 1 next year the introductory and transition phase of Nait will be complete and heavier emphasis will be placed on compliance.
By that date, all cattle needed to have Nait tags and have the tags registered or activated in the Nait system. This would apply to deer after March 2016.
Dr Hutchings said farmers were not allowed to move animals from farm to farm or to sale yards and meat processors without tags and each movement had to be recorded.
A consistent failure to do so might have compliance consequences, including fines of up to $150 per animal.
''Nait will also be working on the compliance side with Ministry of Primary Industries as the enforcement group,'' he said.
Staff checked records to see if movements were recorded, including those of stock to graziers, and back again, and which movements were ''pending'' or had to yet be recorded.
''Farmers do not have to record a movement between two properties within 20km that he owns under the same Nait number, but he does if it is further away.
''If moving from one Nait number to another, those movements do need to be recorded.
''We are trying to make it as easy as possible and make them understand what they need to do, as well as see there is a real benefit for them [to comply].''
There were more than 10 million stock movements a year within New Zealand.