M. bovis close to being eradicated
Just one farm with aMycoplasma bovis infection remained, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced on Thursday.
Speaking at the national bulk milk testing lab MilkTestNZ, Ardern said the partnership with the primary sector was critical, as no other country in the world had attempted to eradicate M. bovis before.
Ardern acknowledged that farmers had lost herds and generations of genetics during the eradication process.
‘‘Your action has preserved our productive sectors that underpin the prosperity of all New Zealanders.
‘‘We can move forward into the next stage of the programme, to progress our goal towards eradication,’’ Ardern said.
O’Connor said no working farms were currently confirmed infected. The one infected property was a beef feed-lot.
There were plans to begin clearing it this year.
‘‘We think it’s the right time to consider the future framework for the M. bovis Eradication Programme,’’ O’Connor said.
A statement from the ministers said there was one active confirmed property at present, compared to 54 at the same time in 2019.
During the past four years there had been a total of 271 confirmed properties.
A total of 176,325 cattle had been culled. There were still five farms under Notices of Direction, compared with 113 at the same time in 2019.
Since the outbreak, $220.3 million had been paid in compensation for 2741 claims. The national beef surveillance programme had tested more than 385,500 animals last year. The bulk tank milk screening conducted more than 99,000 Elisa tests last year, according to the release.
‘‘Our partners, including the Ministry for Primary Industries, are working on a transition of the M. bovis Eradication Programme to an agency under a National Pest Management Plan and will provide me with a proposal for consideration,’’ O’Connor said.
The plan would be open for public consultation in the second half of the year, to be implemented next year, he said.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand wants to hear from farmers during its consultation.