Cattle disease confirmed on two further farms

Mycoplasma bovis has been confirmed on two more Southland farms and on a second North Island one.

The two latest Southland properties were also sheep and beef farms.

No further positive properties were  reported, including in Waikato, as had been speculated, the Ministry for Primary Industries said.

Director of response Geoff Gwyn confirmed a sheep and beef property in the Pahiatua area, near Palmerston North, had tested positive for the bacterial cattle disease.

"We have a number of farms in the North and South Islands under quarantine while we carry out testing. The reality of farming is that large numbers of cattle are routinely moved about the country.

"This Pahiatua detection is part of the large network of associated farms that we are finding."

Federated Farmers policy and advocacy general manager Gavin Forrest, speaking at the South Canterbury branch annual meeting in Waimate last week, said it was likely more North Island cases would be identified.

The first, in Hawkes Bay, was confirmed in December.

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