Nearly two weeks after the decision to take our one shot to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, the programme is making good progress, Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says.

The number of farms under regulatory control has been reduced from 300 to about 200, although this is likely to change as the response progresses.

Mr O’Connor says:

“The reduction is mainly due to farms under Notice of Direction being tested, cleared and allowed to get on with business as usual.

“The number of properties with confirmed infections has recently reduced from 39 to 36 as a result of several properties completing the culling and disinfection process.

“The culling of some 24,500 animals on 28 of those infected properties (IP) has been completed, allowing them to go into the disinfection stage.

“In total 44 farms have been identified since July 2017, with eight now cleaned and cleared of Mycoplasma bovis.

“This is clearly an improving situation for those farmers under the strain of an IP, who can now get back to business.

Phased eradication was in its early stages and his officials  expect to uncover more suspicious or infected properties over coming months.

Mr O’Connor was disappointed by the first confirmed detection in the Wairarapa this week.

He acknowledged there’s a long way to go and thanked everyone for contributing to a significant step forward in our Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme.

 Source: Minister of Agriculture and Biosecurity