Eradication remains the goal

Some 200 South Canterbury and North Otago farmers met with MPI and industry representatives in Waimate on August 10, getting an update on the situation. Waimate mayor Craig Rowley chaired the meeting attended by MPI, Dairy NZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmers North Otago and South Canterbury Rural Support Trust. 

Farmers were told of the testing of affected farms and how to prevent possible spread and were urged to prepare for the possibility of dealing with the disease long-term. 

MPI deadliness and response director Geoff Gwynn told the meeting the likely extent of Mycoplasma bovis and its origins are as yet unknown and testing is continuing. But he conceded that if after testing the disease is found outside South Canterbury, and it cannot be eradicated, MPI will look at managing it long term.

The disease causes untreatable mastitis in dairy and beef cows, pneumonia in up to 30% of infected calves, ear infections in calves, abortions and swollen joints and lameness. 

MPI incident controller Eve Pleydell said no further farms, beyond the two farms in the Van Leeuwen Dairy Group (VLDG), had been identified as infected. The 16 VDLG farms were in “quarantine lockdown” lockdown and the company was “working co-operatively with MPI and others”.

A restricted plan notice imposed on the VLDG and surrounding farms meant no stock movements unless authorised.

Pleydell paid special tribute to VLDG owners Ard and Wilma Van Leeuwen, under a lot of stress and working cooperatively with MPI.

She said the properties surrounding the VLDG farms had been tested once and had returned negative results, but at least two more tests were required before they could be declared disease-free.

Neighbouring farms were subject to “tight controls” and could not transport stock unless given the express permission of MPI. 

MPI was sampling and testing at the VLDG and surrounding farms and was sampling nationwide. VLDG’s 16 properties would have 6284 tests, the 62 surrounding farmers 16,884 tests.

“Over the next three months we will have over 30,000 samples to test.” 

Farmers at the meeting were urged to stick to biosecurity best practice including onfarm hygiene and care when bringing stock and other risk goods on to their properties.

Answering a question from the audience, MPI said there was no evidence that sperm or embryo importing had been the transporter of the disease, but all options were still being investigated.

The mood of farmers attending the meeting was much calmer than a farmer meeting the week before, with most satisfied by the response and answers given by MPI.

South Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy vice-chairman John Gregan said farmers really got answers, which helped reduce their anxiety. “A lot of farmers were feeling quite anxious because so much was unknown, but with the line-up of speakers and information available we came away feeling a lot happier.”

Gywn admitted it had taken MPI time to resource-up after confirmation of the disease, but assured the crowd this had now been ramped up.

“In the first week we probably took 10 samples; now we have 1000s of samples waiting to be tested. We are putting in resources to make sure the farms of this area are supported.”  

He encouraged farmers to be as cooperative as possible with MPI staff if they asked to take samples or come onto a farm. Farmers were also informed that bulk milk testing of 200 tankers had begun.

Pleydell said MPI was trying to find out if the disease was already in other parts of the country. It is working with regional veterinary laboratories, Massey University and animal industry bodies to collect and analyse samples.