New Zealand is divided into a number of Disease Control Areas. Each have different TB testing regimes and other control measures depending on the level of risk of TB being transferred from infected wildlife (mainly possums) to domestic cattle and deer.
Visit this interactive map to see what Disease Control Area your address is currently in.
Disease Control Areas include:
Movement Control Area (MCA)
Movement Control Areas are established where we know there is TB infection in wildlife nearby and the risk of domestic cattle and deer becoming infected with TB is therefore the greatest. The purpose of an MCA is to control the risk of transmission of TB through cattle and deer movements and to provide surveillance for the presence of infected vector (wildlife) species through an intensive TB testing programme.
TB testing is carried out annually in an MCA. TB tests are required for all cattle and deer aged over 90 days of age before being moved from a herd or property in an MCA. This includes movements of stock to and from grazing, unless exempted by permit. The TB test must be carried out within 60 days prior to the stock being moved.
Exemption from pre-movement TB testing is available if the cattle are within three weeks of calving, in which case they are tested at a later date, and if the animals are going to short-term grazing and can be tested when they return to their home property. Pre-movement TB testing is not required if the animals are going direct to slaughter.
Special Testing Area (STA)
Special Testing Areas abutt MCAs. Here the likelihood of TB being found in wildlife is lower than in an MCA and infection rates in cattle and deer herds are also lower as a result.
Testing is carried out either annually or biennially. There is no requirement for pre-movement TB testing of cattle or deer in STAs.
Stock testing can vary from all cattle over six months and deer over eight months of age, to all animals over 12 months of age, depending on the risk of a herd contracting TB.
Surveillance Area
A Surveillance Area is an area where we know there are no TB-infected vectors (wildlife). Here the Animal Health Board maintains a TB surveillance programme of sufficient intensity to detect infection in herds that are clear or are at a low risk of becoming infected with TB. TB testing in Surveillance Areas is every three years and usually involves all animals over 24 months of age.