Cow disease found on Sth Canty farm

A highly contagious cattle disease commonly found in the world has infected a South Canterbury dairy herd in the first recorded case in New Zealand.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is responding to the detection of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis in 14 cows in the dairy herd. About 150 cows on the property have clinical signs that indicate they may be affected.

The ministry’s director of response, Geoff Gwyn, said Mycoplasma bovis did not infect humans and presented no food safety risk. There was no concern about consuming milk and milk products.

MPI was advised of sick cattle at the property last Monday, and the disease was confirmed by the ministry’s Animal Health Laboratory late on Saturday.

Federated Farmers dairy group chairman Chris Lewis it was important to stress there was no impact on human health and the disease did not affect milk products. A team would be working hard to make sure it did not spread beyond the farm.

‘‘It’s something I’ve never heard of before and I don’t have a clue about how it would have arrived here.’’

The farmer had done everything right as soon as he noticed the symptoms, Lewis said. MPI has put legal restrictions in place to stop any movement of stock from the property while the scale of infection is determined.

It was unclear how or when the disease had entered the country. ‘‘Right now we’re working with the farmer to contain the disease to the affected farm and treat the animals showing symptoms. We are very appreciative of his support in this work.’’

Sydney University Associate Professor John House said there was no treatment available for milking cows, which had to be culled.

The disease could infect both calves and cows and caused pneumonia, udder infection (mastitis), abortion, arthritis, tendinitis, middle-ear infection and endometriosis and was potentially fatal. It has no effect on other animals. Farmers are advised to contact their vet if stock show unusual levels of mastitis, abortions or present with arthritis or pneumonia. The disease spreads easily, including through nose to nose contact, feed, water and bedding material and by workers.

‘‘If Mycoplasma bovis becomes established in a dairy herd, close to 100 per cent of calves will become infected. However, they may not develop clinical disease or shows signs of being ill,’’ Gwyn said.

An economist said news of the outbreak had an instant effect on the New Zealand dollar, with a fall of 20 basis points. Any news story with the words ‘‘cow’’ and ‘‘disease’’ tended to have an impact.