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 says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.