Extra measures introduced to target M. bovis pocket of infection

Programme director Simon Andrew says the nationwide testing programme proves the M. bovis infection is isolated to a small area in Mid-Canterbury, where there are infected properties including the feedlot.

“We are working hard to investigate the exact transmission route, but at present that remains unclear,” Andrew says.

“Without a precise understanding of why this is happening, we need to take a different approach to protect cattle and farmers in the area.”

He says the eradication programme acknowledges the role local farmers play in helping to continue to better understand the situation.

Andrew says that to bolster this understanding, the programme will bring in extra technical advice.

“Although we are at the tail-end of this outbreak, it is possible we may find other infected properties in other parts of the country in the future and so we must remain vigilant and maintain our nationwide surveillance programme.

“We’ve come a long way from the height of the programme when there was a peak of 40 confirmed properties across the country to the small number of farms now and farmers have made huge sacrifices. We are committed to hunting down the last remaining infection. There’s been 275 confirmed properties to date out of 30,000-plus farms in New Zealand.”

Andrew says the M. bovis Programme, with DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) will:

• Work with the feedlot’s owners, ANZCO, to start progressive depopulation of the property from October 13
• To coincide with that depopulation, a Controlled Area Notice (CAN) will be introduced for the Wakanui area, affecting 14 cattle farms (three of these properties are owned by ANZCO)
• As part of the CAN, all properties in the high-risk area will be depopulated by mid-January 2023
• A round of testing and census will be carried out for farms in the low-risk area of the CAN.

“The CAN steps up the already tight controls in the area as we think it’s important to take all possible steps to ensure this pocket of infection is contained and the progressive depopulation of the feedlot successful,” says Andrew.

He says that, as part of the CAN, after the depopulation of the high-risk area there will be a standdown period of two to three months to allow the properties to be cleaned and disinfected.

Programme partners, DairyNZ and B+LNZ, will work closely with impacted farmers in the area and compensation will be provided where required.

“We know the CAN will be extremely challenging and disruptive for a small number of farmers in the area and we will support them through this process,” says Andrew.

“Since the start of the programme, M. bovis has predominantly spread by animal movements and we ask farmers to continue keeping their NAIT records up-to-date to protect themselves and others.

“It’s easy to get complacent, especially with low numbers across the country, but now is the time where we must be more cautious than ever and that’s why we are taking these prudent steps.”

Andrew says the programme’s bulk milk test programme is going well and August 2022 is on track to be the first August since 2018 with no confirmed infection via bulk tank milk surveillance.

"While this is positive, it doesn't mean the job is done. It is likely that we’ll find more confirmed infection before we declare eradication successful. When we find any infection, we will deal with it.”