The Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) programme is increasing activity in the lead up to autumn and winter stock movements to limit the risk of disease spread. There will be a surge in the number of properties contacted about the movement of risk animals, and a higher number of properties than usual will be placed under movement restrictions, says programme director Geoff Gwyn.

“We will contact about 300 farmers as a priority over the next few weeks who have had high-risk animals move onto their property. We would expect 250 of those to have Notice of Direction movement controls placed on them immediately and, following testing, that 10 percent to 12 percent may become Confirmed Properties.”

Gwyn said around two-thirds of the properties were beef farms and the remainder dairy, and there were also about 800 other properties that will be contacted about very low-risk animal movements, as work continued to ring-fence the spread of M. bovis.

“This is a very different category of farm. These properties have had low-risk events, like having sent an animal to a property that has become infected, but we do need to check. We expect less than 0.4 percent of these properties to become Confirmed Properties.”

To achieve eradication it is vital to prevent the movement of high-risk animals before Moving Day and winter grazing movements, and Gwyn said doing this as soon as possible before Moving Day will mean less disruption to the farmers involved.

The Ministry for Primary Industries believed there were another 12 months of intensive surveillance, movement controls, and depopulation before the bulk of the eradication effort was completed.

“We are now entering a period where we will have to look at a greater number of farms to find a diminishing number of Confirmed Properties,” said Gwyn.

MPI and its industry partners DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand are beginning a programme of advice to farmers on how best to manage the risk of M. bovis risk during the winter period, in particular with regard to increased animal movements starting with Moving Day on 1 June.

Next week it will be releasing new tools for its regional teams to use to support farmers under regulatory controls that need to make winter grazing movements and help them plan for how to farm through these restrictions. MPI, DairyNZ, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand will be working hard to support affected farmers and get them through the winter months while under restrictions.

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