Listen: DairyNZ 'learning as we go' with M. bovis

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. Photo / Supplied

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DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle says it's up to the dairy industry to step in and help farmers who feel they have been let down by the Ministry for Primary Industries over Mycoplasma bovis.

Mackle told The Country's Jamie Mackay that, along with the likes of Beef + Lamb NZ and Federated Farmers, DairyNZ can "play a bigger role" in the M. bovis process.

"In fact we've got conversations going on right now ... we're actually planning around this which is good".

The Ministry for Primary Industries recently faced criticism for introducing a surge of activity in its M. bovis programme just before Easter, when many farmers were busy moving stock.

Listen below:

Farmers also took issue with the Ministry's compensation process.

Although there were problems with the M. bovis programme, these were to be expected, as eradication has never been attempted before, said Mackle.

"I don't know of any other Government department that's tried to work hand in glove with an industry and vice versa in such a way, in such a scale."

"It's not an excuse, but it is a reality that actually this has never been done before. So we're learning as we go".

Also in today's interview: Mackle gives an update on how DairyNZ's farmer forums have been going.