M.bovis alert continues in Tasman as fire fight drags on

A helicopter using a monsoon bucket fighting the Tasman bush fires near Wakefield, Nelson. Photo / Leon Menzies.

In animal welfare efforts around the Tasman fires, biosecurity officials have assured they're keeping an eye on cattle under quarantine for risk of spreading Mycoplasma bovis.

An ongoing government-primary industry effort to eradicate the disease, which is passed from animal to animal and by feeding infected milk to calves, is set to cost the country nearly $1 billion. Thousands of dairy and beef cattle have been killed in the eradication attempt.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said three properties in the eradication effort were in the area affected by fires.

M. bovis officials were working closely with farmers and emergency services to be prepared to move the stock away from other cattle if necessary.

The cattle considered at risk of spreading M.bovis remained under quarantine and their welfare needs were being met, said MPI.

To date, 150 dairy cows and 50 calves on a farm not affected by the M.bovis programme had been relocated. The property from which they were moved was not damaged by fire, but close, and dry. The stock were moved to a greener, wetter paddock, said MPI.

Latest MPI data shows 23 properties in the South Island are considered infected by MPI, and nine in the North Island.

In the South Island there are 45 properties under movement control and 12 in the North Island. These included properties considered infected.

Under MPI scrutiny are 137 farms in the South Island and 78 in the North Island.

MPI said the value of compensation so far paid to farmers for cattle killed was $43.8 million.