M. bovis strikes region again
Poukawa farm infection confirmed as A&P Society continues to ponder a cattle section for its spring show
Mycoplasma bovis has been confirmed on two properties in Hawke's Bay and Canterbury. The Ministry for Primary Industries said they were a Hawke's Bay beef farm in Poukawa with 36 animals and a beef farm near Ashburton with 204 animals. The farms were linked to other known infected properties through animal movements and tracing work from them was under way.
The number of active infected properties in New Zealand stands at 42.
There are 70 properties with Re- stricted Place Notices, meaning they are infected or suspected of having Mycoplasma bovis.
The Hawke's Bay A and P Society is still considering its position with its Royal New Zealand Show cattle section which has been placed under threat because of the M.bovis.
General manager Sally Jackson said last night the two meetings this week — the cattle committee and the board along with an MPI representative — had had “positive” outcomes and it is hoped a decision would be confirmed next week.
The show is to be held at Hawke’s Bay Showgrounds Tomoana on October 17-19.
“We do need to be sure the all the appropriate protocol is followed, and we recognise how really important the industry is,” Jackson said. “It is amazing how everyone has pulled together for the best possible outcome.”
MPI and the Canterbury A and P Society have been working on guidelines on how cattle sections can continue at shows around the country can continue during the crisis.
Calf classes in children's animal showing sections at the show have already been cancelled.
The North Island season-opening Poverty Bay Show in Gisborne on October 12-13 will be without its Supreme Heifer Challenge, now set to be staged on the property of spon- sor’s Turihau Station, and the Wairarapa A&P Society announced this week it has cancelled the cattle classes at its show at Clareville, near Carterton, on October 27-28. The Egmont show in Taranaki in November has also abandoned its cattle classes, while in the South Island the Winton A&P show in Southland last January went ahead without cattle classes, as did the Oxford and Hawarden shows in North Canterbury in March and April. Cattle will also be absent from the Ellesmere and Ashburton shows in Canterbury in October.