Cannon fodder?
OPINION: The recent high-profile Mycoplasma bovis announcement from the Government in Hamilton featured Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor.
This compares with 10 last year and 22 in 2019.
A Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) statement says the national surveillance programmes continue to provide confidence that M. bovis is not widespread in New Zealand.
At the same time, they have played a significant role in finding pockets of infection outside of the known network.
The national beef surveillance programme has tested over 385,500 animals to December 1, 2021. No confirmed infected properties were found through this surveillance.
The bulk tank milk screening conducted over 99,000 tests in 2021 (as the completion of November 2021 testing). This resulted in 179 detect results and three confirmed properties this year.
The average time for properties under legal restrictions has decreased significantly. In 2021, the average time for a property to be under a notice of direction was 38 days.
