Feeding Ruminant Protein to Ruminants is Banned

The agriculture industry is vital to New Zealand’s economy – we export about 95% of our dairy produce, 90% of lamb and 80% of all beef and mutton produced. Biosecurity helps us keep our competitiveness in international markets by managing the risks associated with international trade. However to remain competitive, everyone in this industry must ensure that biosecurity risks are controlled.

One of the risks is BSE, commonly know as 'mad cow disease'. The disease is spread among ruminants (cattle, sheep, deer, alpacas and goats) through the consumption of ingredients (ruminant protein) taken from BSE-infected cattle. An unfavorable BSE status would have serious impacts on New Zealand’s economy and the livelihood of thousands of farmers would be jeopardised.

The Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999 aim to preserve New Zealand’s BSE-free status and manage the risk of a BSE outbreak. The regulations prohibit the feeding of ruminant protein (except dairy produce) in any form to ruminant animals. One of the objectives of these regulations is to minimise the risk of contamination of feed intended for ruminants in feed mills that utilise ruminant protein for other purposes.

Related Documents

• Summary for Farmers
• Ruminant Protein Control Programme
• Sample Ruminant Protein Control Programme
• Holders of a registered Ruminant Protein Control Programme
• Guide for Feed Retailers and Distributors
• Labelling Requirements for Feed and Fertiliser
• Applying Meat Processing Wastes to Grazing Land
• TSE Surveillance Programme

Page last updated: 10 July 2008