Big jump in cow disease spread
Ministry officials are scrambling to update estimates of farms infected with a cow disease after property numbers under question exploded in the last week from 129 to 290 farms.
Two further farms were confirmed on Thursday with Mycoplasma bovis, in Oamaru and Southland.
This is on top of a sheep and beef farm near Cheviot in North Canterbury added to the list on Wednesday after the disease was found to be detected in the region for the first time.
However, its seems property numbers ‘‘of interest’’ have jumped including properties under movement controls restricting the movement of any risk goods, including animals, on or off the property.
Tracking of the cattle disease showed that more farms than previously expected were likely to be affected, said Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor.
‘‘While we always expected to find more properties, officials tell me that the numbers will likely exceed their earlier modelling. That modelling work is continuing and we will have a clearer picture in the next couple of weeks.’’
‘‘MPI is continuing an intense programme of work with farming sector groups about the next best steps in the response – including containment and phased eradication.
O’Connor said tests so far showed all of the infected properties were connected in some way.
This indicated that there were no fresh incursions from other sources.
‘‘The tracing of Mycoplasma bovis is made harder by the poor use of the national animal tracing system (NAIT),’’ said O’Connor.
‘‘We could have tracked this more quickly if the system had been used properly.
‘‘The previous Government’s inaction, lack of enforcement and promotion of NAIT has created major issues for hunting down Mycoplasma bovis.
‘‘We will make changes to the NAIT system.
A cull of 22,000 cows is underway, with nearly half of the animals already destroyed.
‘‘That cull is necessary to reduce the disease’s spread through the national herd. I know farmers whose properties are under control restrictions face a difficult time,’’ said O’Connor.
‘‘I’m working hard to ensure the Government and sector make the best possible decision with the best possible information regarding Mycoplasma bovis. I expect that decision will come in the next few weeks.
‘‘Farmers should ensure any compensation claims they make related to Mycoplasma bovis are accurate, as it makes the process quicker.
‘‘MPI and Dairy NZ have boosted the number of people working directly with farmers to assist in that process.
‘‘As of close
of
play Wednesday May 9, 38 farms were active infected places and another 40 were under Restricted Place Notice (i.e. considered highly likely to become infected).
Nearly 1700 properties are of interest because of risk events such as animal movements, the supply of milk for animal feed or because they are adjacent to infected properties,’’ says Damien O’Connor.