New round of testing to begin for 'M. bovis'

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is about to carry out a second round of nationwide milk testing, checking the country's dairy herd for the presence of Mycoplasma bovis.

Under the programme, milk samples from every New Zealand dairy farm will be taken shortly after the start of calving, when cows are most likely to be shedding the bacterium.

Samples will be collected from each farm about four weeks following the start of supply, with the first samples expected to be collected in the North Island in late July.

Mycoplasma bovis is very difficult to test for as animals can be carrying the bacteria but not appear ill or show evidence of it in their blood or milk.

Testing at this time of year, when cows are in the early weeks of lactation and under some physical stress (and therefore more likely to be shedding), will yield the most accurate results and provide further information and assurance about the location of the disease in New Zealand.

MPI's director of response Geoff Gwyn said farmers would not have to do anything, as all test samples will be collected as part of the standard on-tanker test process.

''Samples will be collected from each farm every two weeks, up to a total of six samples over 12 weeks, and tested by Milk TestNZ.''

Farmers can expect to receive more information about the testing programme from their dairy companies this week.

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