M. bovis spreads to Northland
A Northland dry stock farm has tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis, the first confirmed infection in the region.
Biosecurity New Zealand said yesterday a property in Northland had tested positive for the cattle disease, taking the number of infected properties nationwide to 37.
The infected property was a dry stock beef farm. It was identified through the tracing of animal movements from other infected farms and was now under a Restricted Place (RP) notice.
RP notices mean a property is effectively in quarantine lockdown, with no movement of animals or other risky goods on and off the farm.
Biosecurity New Zealand would not name the farm but neighbours who shared a boundary with the infected property had been notified. However, the risk to neighbouring farms was ‘‘very low’’.
Infected cattle on the property would be culled as part of the Government’s $886 million attempt to eradicate the disease.
Biosecurity New Zealand was planning a public meeting for next week in Northland and further details would be announced in the next few days.
Federated Farmers Northland president John Blackwell said although the confirmation was not unexpected it was disappointing the disease had reached the region.
‘‘This particular property had closed up shop a while ago and was having further testing so we knew this could be coming,’’ he said. ‘‘We’d hoped it wouldn’t get this far north but it just goes to show that it’s not just a disease of the south.’’