Mycoplasma bovis Update

Edition 308, Friday 4 November 2022
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Number changes from last update:

There is one new Active Confirmed Property
There are no new Cleared Confirmed Properties

One new Active Confirmed Property

This week we are announcing one new Active Confirmed Property – a dairy farm in Mid-Canterbury.

This dairy farm, which is outside of the Wakanui Controlled Area Notice (CAN), received cattle from an infected property within the zone. It was completing on-farm sampling as a result of a forward trace (cattle from an infected farm during the risk period of likely infection) when a bulk tank milk detect result was identified.

We are carrying out cattle movement tracing and genomic analysis as is standard practice when a property is confirmed infected and we are working closely with the farmer.

It is not unexpected to find another infected property at this stage in the eradication effort. In fact, we can expect to find more as we continue our work. The programme expects that the six currently infected properties will be cleared by early next year.

In light of the recently identified new strain, we have recently stepped up the frequency of our summer bulk tank milk screening from monthly to fortnightly. The strain has not been identified on any other properties and we continue to investigate possible pathways.

The National Beef and Drystock Cattle Surveillance for M. bovis is also part of our comprehensive background surveillance to provide evidence that infection is not widely spread among beef and drystock cattle population.

We are four-and-a-half-years into a 10-year eradication programme, and in a phase where we must work harder to find the remaining pockets of infection. Along with the commitment of farmers, industry, and rural communities, we remain on track to be the first country in the world to eradicate M. bovis.

Biosecurity tips for visitors

Here are a few tips to ensure visitors to your property follow your “clean on, clean off” policy.

Ask them to let you know when they plan to visit your farm and give them a heads-up of what your on-farm biosecurity requirements are.
Ask them about their hygiene practices for cattle.
Before entering and leaving your farm, ensure visitors clean and disinfect footwear, protective clothing, and equipment.

Nature can help maintain a clean yard

Yards can become contaminated with fluid from the noses and mouths of cattle during periods of heavy use. A good practice for graziers to help minimise the spread of disease is to keep the yard as clean and dry as possible. One handy tip is, if it suits, to allow delay of a day between groups of arriving cattle to let sunshine and wind do much of the work. It’s also safer for herd owners to undertake tagging, vaccinating, and drenching at the home farm.

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KEY CONTACTS

Latest information on Mycoplasma bovis and the Eradication Programme - M. bovis website
General questions on M. bovis - call 0800 008 333 or email Mbovis_Liaison@mpi.govt.nz
Compensation information - call 0800 008 333 or email compensationcoordinator@mpi.govt.nz
Direct farmer support (Rural Support Trust) - 0800 787 254
To report a pest or disease (Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline) - 0800 80 99 66

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