Wednesday 23 March 2011
Fiji
Dairy cattle from NZ
A first batch of cattle arrived from New Zealand this morning as part of government’s strategy to revive the dairy industry.
Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Colonel Mason Smith says with the hel
p of SPC, an agreement was signed with New Zealand for the importation of livestock.
Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary Colonel Mason Smith says with the help of SPC, an agreement was signed with New Zealand for the importation of livestock.
Fiji’s dairy industry was recently devastated by the brucellosis disease and to date Smith says they continue to cull cattle that have been infected.
Smith says the arrival of cattle from New Zealand this morning will boost the dairy industry.
“This morning we have a hundred and fifty impregnated heifers coming to Fiji and we hope to have the second shipment at the end of March or early April. This is part of the overall strategy in addition to the programs undertaken by the Agriculture department for the artificial insemination of dairy cows, the culling of infected animals and the improvement of our farms and pastures.”
The cows will now be taken to Koronivia and remain under quarantine for a week before being distributed to farmers.
Smith says the cattle will not be given out for free and a price is being worked on to be suitable for farmers.
Source: newsroom - farmingnewsdaily.co.uk
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