M. bovis plan on track
New Zealand's world-first Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is making great strides but this isn't the time for complacency, says Ospri.
A mid-Canterbury dairy farm has been confirmed infected with Mycoplasma bovis this week after it was first identified by standard bulk tank milk background screening, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Testing has identified that the strain of this infection is ST-21, the strain originally detected in 2017.
MPI says the find is unsurprising as they expected to identify more infected properties during spring testing.
“And it does not undermine our progress toward eradication,” MPI says.
“We are now halfway through the 10-year Eradication Programme and one confirmed infected property compares with 40 (at any one time) at the height of the outbreak in 2018.
“Our nationwide milk testing continues to operate well and shows no evidence of wider infection.”
The Mycoplasma bovis Eradication Programme is working with the farmer on a plan to depopulate the farm at Selwyn and is undertaking tracing of animal movements on and off the farm as per MPI’s normal practice.
“This work will help identify the likely source of the infection and any other farms it may have moved to.
“As with previous confirmed properties, we will likely see the number of farms under movement restrictions increase over the next few weeks as the programme looks for any possible infection.
“Our team will be in touch with any farms affected and experience tells us that in nearly all cases these restrictions will lift quickly.”
Although MPI continues to find less infection each year, it’s reminding farmers to follow good biosecurity practices and record all on-farm movements.
“Keeping accurate and up to date NAIT records helps the speedy tracing of animals and is the best way to keep M. bovis off farms,” it says.
Meanwhile MPI says the find does not affect development of the proposed National Pest Management Plan to manage M. bovis over the next few years.
It is encouraging farmers to have their say on proposals by 23 October.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
OPINION: Hats off to our pipfruit sector.
OPINION: The country's dairy farmers will now also have a hand in providing free lunch for schools.
OPINION: The abrupt departure of Synlait chief executive Grant Watson could be a sign that Chinese company Bright Dairy, the…