The tracking of cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis shows that more farms than previously expected are likely to be affected by the disease, says Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor.

Farmers affected by Mycoplasma bovis and unhappy with compensation payments offered may go to arbitration and appeal, says MPI.

Farming will change post Mycoplasma bovis, says Roger Smith, the man appointed to head Biosecurity New Zealand, a new dedicated stand-alone business unit within the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the previous Government took a hands-off approach to biosecurity.

Ministry of Primary Industries’ testing has found a second farm in the North Island with positive Mycoplasma bovis infection. 

MPI says it is working hard to process farmers’ current claims for compensation for the culling of their cattle infected with Mycoplasma bovis.

Jersey breeder Peter Hansen has asked his local MP for help as he continues to seek compensation after being caught up in the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak.

A commercial diagnostic tool which will allow farmers to test for cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis themselves is being developed.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says it is committed to helping farmers affected by the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis receive their due compensation and is working hard to process all current claims.

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) says it would be “deeply concerning” if any legal breaches contributed to the arrival of Mycoplasma bovis in NZ.