Is M. Bovis in retreat?

Results from the ongoing nationwide bulk milk testing for Mycoplasma bovis are encouraging according to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ M. bovis director Geoff Gwyn.

With three-quarters of testing completed, the process had only confirmed the disease on three farms, all of which were already part of the tracing programme, and had previously known links to the disease.

One of those properties was under surveillance, and the other two were about to go under surveillance.

Mr Gwyn said milk samples were being taken from every dairy farm in the country shortly after calving, when cows were most likely to be shedding the bacterium, the first being collected around four weeks from the start of milk supply.

They were then collected at two-week intervals, with a total of six samples from each farm. As of last week more than 51,000 of about 70,000 tests had been completed. Almost all farms had had three rounds of testing, around 10,000 had had four rounds, and about 1500 had completed all six rounds.

“The fact that we have confirmed Mycoplasma bovis on only three farms, and that all three of them were already on our radar, is encouraging,” Mr Gwyn said.

“It reinforces our belief we are dealing with a single strain of Mycoplasma bovis, based on the available scientific evidence and our own work in the field.

“While this remains an extremely difficult time for affected farmers, I’m confident we are on the right path in terms of tracking down the disease and eradicating it from New Zealand.”

Full results from the milk testing were expected early next month.