Mike Cranstone is backing attempts to eradicate M. bovis. Wanganui Chronicle photograph by Bevan Conley.
New cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is causing New Zealand farmers a lot of stress but it's worth trying to rid the country of it, Mike Cranstone says.
"The opportunity is there to have a good crack at eradicating it."
He's the new president of the Wanganui Federated Farmers province, voted
in on May 25 at the annual general meeting.
There are 37 farms with infected cattle so far, and many others that may be infected and are in quarantine. So far 11,000 cattle have been slaughtered in the eradication process.
The disease doesn't affect humans and is spread between cattle by semen, milk and nasal fluids. It only shows when animals are under stress, often as lameness or mastitis.
