Early Bird I Friday June 21st 2024

Winter supplies of lamb and cattle lower than expected, more help needed recruiting rural health professionals, and hundreds of Pamu working dogs take part in DNA programme. Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather! Winter supplies of lamb and cattle lower than expected Winter supplies of prime lambs and cattle are rapidly dwindling following an unusually high kill rate in late summer and early autumn. According to AgriHQ data up to mid-May, the North Island kill was 7.1% higher than the previous year, and the South Island saw a 9.6% increase. Nationally, the prime cattle kill is 5% ahead. This surge in early kill reflects the first time in several years that processing companies have not faced staffing shortages. The prime lamb kill has significantly exceeded the five-year average, leading some meat companies to start paying procurement premiums and seeking mutton to maintain production levels. AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad attributed the higher lamb kill partly to dry conditions and feed shortages in many areas. These factors, combined with low farmgate prices, created a weak store market, resulting in earlier-than-normal slaughter of lambs and a subsequent shortage of finished lambs.  A lengthy autumn cattle kill saw weekly slaughter rates exceed 80,000 head by late April as the cow kill peaked. This higher-than-expected slaughter rate for prime cattle earlier in the year has exhausted market-ready supplies, leading to a recent increase in farmgate pricing. Beef + Lamb NZ forecasts indicate significantly fewer cattle left for processing until the end of September compared to the same time last year.  MPI on alert for avian influenza The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) believes that eradicating a highly contagious strain of bird flu, if it reaches and establishes itself in wild birds in New Zealand, is unlikely.  Mary van Andel, MPI’s chief veterinary officer, says that New Zealand has never experienced a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which is highly contagious and deadly in poultry.  However, with the H5N1 strain detected in wild birds in Antarctica, the risk has increased, necessitating preparedness for its potential impact. HPAI could significantly impact both New Zealand's poultry industry and wildlife. Preparedness plans focus on supporting the poultry industry’s response to HPAI and protecting native species.  While HPAI has infected dairy cattle in the US, van Andel does not expect a similar occurrence in New Zealand, attributing the US cases to specific production system conditions.  Farmers are encouraged to maintain good biosecurity practices, keep flocks isolated from wild birds, ensure hygiene, restrict farm access, and monitor herd health closely. Early detection and reporting are essential for effective management of any potential cases. Van Andel reassured that properly cooked chicken and eggs, as well as pasteurised milk, remain safe for consumption.  More help needed recruiting rural health professionals Recruiting medical professionals into rural areas continues to be a significant challenge, according to North Canterbury Mayor Marie Black. Despite Health Minister Dr. Shane Reti's assertion that Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora has made substantial progress in staff recruitment, rural areas like Hurunui are still struggling to attract medical professionals. The 2024 budget prioritises training more health professionals, with $22 million allocated for doctor training, aiming to increase the intake from 589 this year to 614 next year. Additionally, the government is considering establishing a third medical school at Waikato University focused on primary and rural care. In the year ending December 2023, Health NZ recruited over 200 full-time equivalent senior doctors, 2500 nurses, nearly 100 midwives, and more than 230 scientific and technical staff. However, shortages persist in areas like mental health, critical care, and midwifery. Mayor Black expressed concerns that despite these recruitment efforts, rural areas have not seen sufficient improvements in primary health provision. To address this, the Hurunui district has been actively encouraging health students to consider rural careers. For the past decade, third-year Otago Medical School students have visited the district annually, engaging with local medical centres, emergency services, and community organizations. Dr. Reti emphasised that while overseas-trained professionals contribute significantly, training local New Zealanders offers a more sustainable long-term solution. He highlighted that health workforce shortages are a global issue, making it crucial to invest in domestic training for doctors and other health professionals. Shareholders fund Lumina Lamb’s future success Lumina Lamb's co-owner, Headwaters NZ Limited, has successfully raised $2 million from existing and new shareholders, paving the way for global growth of the premium lamb brand.  The capital raise follows a strong year for Headwaters, despite economic challenges. Highlights include a 35% increase in lamb supply numbers compared to the previous year , offering a premium above the schedule for Lumina Lambs, adding 20 new suppliers for 2025, and partnering with Lone Star Farms to match breeders with contract finishers.  The successful capital raise will enable Headwaters NZ to explore new opportunities and deliver better returns to its shareholders and suppliers.  Lumina Lamb, is a joint venture between Headwaters and Alliance Group, and is celebrated as the “Rolls Royce” of lamb.  Hundreds of Pamu working dogs take part in DNA programme. More than 200 working dogs from Pāmu farms across New Zealand have become the first to provide their DNA for a project at Massey University aimed at safeguarding the future of New Zealand’s working dog breeds.  Led by Professor Matt Littlejohn at Massey’s AL Rae Centre for Genetics and Breeding, this initiative seeks to connect the DNA of working dogs to their health and performance. The project is co-funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund and supported by Pāmu, Focus Genetics, and other industry partners. The initial phase of the project involved collecting blood samples, cheek swabs, and detailed questionnaires for analysis. Although genetic research has been done on many pet dog breeds globally, this is the first time the unique working dogs of New Zealand have been genetically mapped. Thirteen Pāmu farms contributed their dogs for blood and cheek swab samples, along with photos and measurements, and shepherds completed detailed questionnaires for each dog. farm team members. Over the next few years, the programme aims to collect more than 2,000 cheek swabs from additional working dogs.  The genetic information will be used to identify links between genetics and working performance, detect known genetic disease variants, and better understand the dogs' heritage.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.