Accurate birth records strengthen bio security while contributing to high value export opportunities for New Zealand farmers. 

Image supplied by OSPRI, featuring farmer, Christine Angland. Please note that the quality of the image has been enhanced using AI. 

Strong biosecurity and access to high value export markets depend on accurate animal information. OSPRI is encouraging farmers to include lifetime data to help New Zealand manage disease risks and open more doors to premium market opportunities globally. 

Benefits for farmers 

Date of Birth (DOB) data is an important aspect of ‘lifetime traceability’ – knowing an animals history from birth to death. Some premium export programmes already require birth information. Farmers also share with us how they use DOB records to help guide breeding and culling decisions, track growth rates, and plan more efficiently. When reliable information is in the system, it creates more opportunities to use it in ways that support farm performance. 

Why the focus now?

 NAIT reviews its programme priorities every year with shareholders and industry partners. The sector is strongly supporting improvements to lifetime animal data, starting with ensuring all animals are registered with full birth details - date and location included. Better accuracy now helps future proof New Zealand’s primary industries. 

What farmers need to do 

When you're registering calves, it's important to enter their month and year of birth in NAIT. When you're unsure of the actual day, just put the 1st of the month – this still meets your traceability obligations. 

And remember; be sure to tag and register all calves before 180 days of age, or before their first off farm movement - whichever comes first. No tag, no transport.

Let's talk Livestock! Contact your local rep to explore opportunities tailored to your farming goals.