- Showing Calves Due To Mycoplasma Bovis

Ag Day is an important part of our tradition here at Tauriko School and one that we look forward to taking place in Term 4 on Thursday 18th October.

However this year, with the arrival of the bio security risk Mycoplasma Bovis, the Board of Trustees (BOT) have made a decision that calves will not be shown at our annual Ag Day due to the bio-security risk this disease presents to our community.

The Board considered information available to them through the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), Federated Farmers and a recent Dairy NZ/MPI conference. Like our neighbouring rural schools, Tauriko School Board of trustees has chosen to support the Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers and their recommendations to exclude all breeds of calves from their 2018 Ag Day. BOP Federated Farmers are mindful that there are no cases of the outbreak in the BOP that they know of at this point and they wish to maintain this situation.

We understand this will be disappointing for some families, however, as a school we feel it is in the best interests of the animals and our local farming community. This also presents a really good opportunity for families to discuss bio-security measures with their children and how important these are for New Zealand’s economy, and the livelihood of farmers.

Goats, lambs and chickens are still options for those families who usually raise a calf.
It is our desire that Calves will be able to be shown again at Ag Day in 2019.

Greg Simmonds
(Board of Trustee Chairperson)