Hi Randy,
A pathogen-free herd is an impossibility, maintaining a "Closed Herd" can be a smart move for a small farm. It can decrease the need for testing frequency and reduce the risk of introducing diseases into your herd. However, Canada is a better possibility. Manitoba is a better option than New Zealand. We in Canada would welcome your investment. There are areas in the boreal forest where there are no pathogens. The permafrost is melting so there is hope for pathogen free herds. However, we in Canada are in need of the latest biomedical news about the USA. The USA is on the forefront of biomedical research and we in Canada are enamored of your research.
I'm talking about north of Toronto, north of Winnepig, north of Montreal...north of Vancouver...
Keeping a fully closed herd requires a good deal of effort on the part of the farmer.
It goes well beyond simply breeding your own replacement livestock, and rather embraces awareness around disease exposure. A fully closed herd means that livestock don't have any contact with saliva, feces, urine, blood, semen, etc. A farmer who values a <<CLOSED HERD>> must keep in mind all of those potential paths for infection.
On some farms the level of biosecurity may not be possible or practical. In that case a higher frequency testing may be warranted to verify herd health (in New Zealand..ha ha it's going to cost you money to import the beef parts). For other farmers who value a closed herd the effort may be well worth it to avoid the frustration that comes from dealing with a disease on a small farm. On some farms this level of biosecurity may not be possible or practical. In this case a higher testing frequency may be warranted to maintain herd health. How are you going to ensure the health of the herd when you are living in New Jersey, Randy, and the herd is in New Zealand? For other farmers though, the effort may well be worth it, to avoid the frustration that comes from dealing from disease on a small farm.
1) Screen all Livestock before bringing them into your farm.
2) In addition to screening new livestock, purchase only from sellers who also maintain proper screening
3) Screen all cattle and goats, including livestock kept for meat
4) Do not share bulls or bullocks with other farms.
5) Reduce contact with wildlife with fencing, and/or the use of guardian
5) Do not board or pasture livestock from other farms.
6) Be mindful of contact with neighbour livestock, across the fence.
7) If you purchase new animals, keep them isolated for at least 2 weeks to make sure that they are not incubating a disease. If an animal becomes sick in isolation in the pen or stall, you have an opportunity to clean that area, removing all feces, and using an appropriate dis-infectant. Rather than using the sick animal infecting your herd.
8) Some diseases (like BVD "bovine disease diarreah") can be devastating. One infected animal brought to your farm can be disastrous, even if your cattle are vaccinated against this disease, because vaccinations are never 100% effective.
Keeping a "FULLY CLOSED HERD" is an impossibility, because livestock disease can pass
through saliva, mucuous, feces, urine, semen, blood and en utuero.
9) New Zealand cattle are also prey to deer, elk, etc. This herd of yours is not going to be sacrosanct nor "Pure" as you would imagine.
10) The Maori people are tired of being used by people from the West.
