How to send samples and collect incentives
If you are familiar with the process, download and complete this form.
The TSE surveillance submission form
For detailed instructions, follow the steps.
If you have questions, email TSEsurveillance@mpi.govt.nz
Step 1: Vet prepares sample
Euthanise the animal and follow our guide to prepare the sample.
Download the guide to preparing a TSE sample [PDF, 593 KB]
If you send the whole head rather than just the brain, MPI will deduct these amounts:
- Cattle: $70 (plus GST)
- Deer: $60 (plus GST)
- Sheep and goats: $30 (plus GST).
Find out more
Request information on bovine brain removal from TSEsurveillance@mpi.govt.nz.
Step 2: Vet sends the sample
Find out where to send the sample and download a submission form.
Fill out the TSE surveillance submission form and submit it with the sample to any of the labs below.
- Download the TSE surveillance submission form [PDF, 185 KB]
| Approved labs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland |
Awanui Veterinary Phone: 09 574 4701 |
||
| Hamilton |
Awanui Veterinary Phone: 07 850 0777 |
Idexx Phone: 07 839 1470 |
SVS Laboratories Limited PO Box 10304, Te Rapa Phone: 07 444 5101 |
| Palmerston North |
Awanui Veterinary Phone: 06 356 7100 |
Idexx IVABS Building 1st Floor, Massey University Tennant Drive Phone: 06 353 3983 |
|
| Christchurch | Awanui Veterinary 7 Halkett Street Phone: 03 379 9484 |
||
| Dunedin | Awanui Veterinary Invermay Campus Block A, Puddle Alley Mosgiel Phone: 03 489 4600 |
||
Step 3: Send results to MPI and collect incentives
See where to send lab results and invoices – for farmers and vets.
Vet payment
Send your case accession number from the lab as a reference to TSESurveillance@mpi.govt.nz
We will reply with a purchase order number and instructions to generate your invoice.
You must have a purchase order from the TSE programme before sending your invoice to accountspayable@mpi.govt.nz
Farmer payment
To make it easy, MPI will send a sample invoice to farmers, who can sign and return the invoice to MPI for payment. Samples disqualified by the lab for quality reasons won't be paid.
Send invoices to:
TSE surveillance manager
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6011
Why we need your help
MPI performs TSE surveillance to assure New Zealand's export customers that we're free from TSEs. We test brain samples from cows, sheep, goats and deer that show clinical neurological signs.
Which animals are eligible?
Our surveillance programme complies with the requirements of the World Organisation of Animal Health. In keeping with those requirements, the following animals can be tested in the absence of other obvious causes of disease.
Cattle
Aged between 30 months and 9 years, with any of the following presentations:
- Neurological signs that are progressive or do not respond to treatment.
- Behavioural changes, or abnormalities in stance or gait that have no clear musculoskeletal origin.
- Metabolic disorders (including downer cattle without obvious injury) that do not respond to treatment.
Sheep and goats
Aged 2 years or older and showing signs of progressive non-responsive nervous disease.
Deer
Aged 2 years or older, showing signs of:
- progressive non-responsive nervous disease or ill-thrift
- acute or peracute pneumonia, or aspiration pneumonia.
If your animals show these signs and you don’t have access to a vet, call our pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Financial incentives
MPI compensates farmers for the loss of their animals, and vets for their time and labour in taking and submitting brain samples.
Farmer incentives
- Cattle: $250 plus GST
- Deer: $200 plus GST
- Sheep and goats: $100 plus GST
Vet incentives
- Cattle: $380 plus GST
- Deer: $250 plus GST
- Sheep and goats: $200 plus GST
We don't accept more than 2 samples a year from any one farm. If you believe more cases should be investigated, call the pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Who to contact
If you have questions about information on this page, email TSEsurveillance@mpi.govt.nz
