RURAL NEWS // SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
NEWS 27
M.bovis hits Northland NIGEL MALTHUS
BIOSECURITY NEW Zealand has confirmed a farm in Northland has tested positive for MycoA map of the Mycoplasma bovis spread indicates that only the Bay of Plenty and Marlborough remain free of the disease. Taranaki and the West Coast have farms under suspicion. SUPPLIED/BIOSECURITY NZ
plasma bovis. Although several farms in the region are under a notice of direction (NOD) -- usually applied to farms where test results are pending -it’s the first time the disease has been confirmed in Northland. Tasman district was
confirmed two weeks ago as having its first infection. Northland’s infected property is a drystock beef farm, identified by tracing animal movements from known infected farms. It is now under a restricted place notice
under the Biosecurity Act 1993, in quarantine lockdown restricting the movement of animals and other risk goods on and off the farm. Biosecurity NZ is not publicly naming the farm but has notified neighbours who share a boundary with it. The risk to
neighbouring farms is reckoned very low. All infected cattle on the farm will be culled, the timing agreed with the farmer. Biosecurity NZ held a public meeting in Dargaville on September 6 to keep local farmers informed.
ONLY TWO REGIONS DISEASE-FREE MPI HAD by late August reported 37 farms confirmed infected with M.bovis -- eight in the North Island and 29 in the South. Twenty-one are beef farms, 14 dairy and two are “others.” Including those infected farms, 58 are now listed as ‘restricted places’. Notices of direction (NOD), which restrict some movement of stock from farms and are usually applied to farms where test results are pending, are in place on 190 properties. A Biosecurity NZ map of the M.bovis spread indicates that only the Bay of Plenty and Marlborough remain free of the disease, with neither RP notices nor NODs in force. Taranaki and the South Island West Coast have farms under NODs but as yet no confirmed infection. MPI says 70 - 80% of NODs do not go on to prove infected. Meanwhile, MPI says eradication continues, with 30 farms now cleaned and depopulated and free to resume operation with new stock.
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Simple steps MPI is calling on farmers to adopt robust biosecurity practices. Simple steps farmers can take include: ■■ carefully consider the disease status of new stock before animals are bought or moved ■■ ensure visitors clean and disinfect their equipment, clothing and footwear on arrival at a farm ■■ make boundary fences secure and prevent nose-to-nose contact with neighbouring stock ■■ give young calves special protection, allowing only essential people into the calf shed.
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