Mycoplasma bovis: MPI says transport movements 'absolutely safe'

MPI says finding two new farms with Mycoplasma bovis "is not unexpected." Photo / Supplied to NZ Herald by DairyNZ

Two more Mid Canterbury farms have been confirmed with Mycoplasma bovis.

The Ministry for Primary Industries, in its latest update on the bacterial cattle disease outbreak on Friday, said both were dairy farms connected to properties already known to be infected.

''The confirmation of two more farms is not unexpected and doesn't change MPI's view that the disease is not widespread in New Zealand,'' the update said.

They took the total number of infected farms to 35 and the number of properties with quarantine restrictions to 48. However, some of those have had their herds culled and restrictions lifted. They were being disinfected under strict controls before they could be restocked.

All six Mid Canterbury farms were still under quarantine, along with 10 of the 11 in South Canterbury-North Otago, two of two in Middlemarch, and 10 or 13 in Southland. Another two Canterbury farms had been affected and one was still under quarantine, as was the sole Hawke's Bay farm.

Central Rural Life has been made aware that one North Otago transport company was concerned the location of infected properties was not being revealed.

A ministry spokesman told Central Rural Life The Privacy Act 1993 prevented it from publicly disclosing that information.

''It is up to the farmer to advise whomever they need to - and this may include transporters.''

Road Users Forum chief executive Ken Shirley told Central Rural Life a newsletter had been sent out on Friday to keep the transport industry informed about Mycoplasma bovis.

The forum had been working closely with the ministry and meat companies, he said.

Livestock to be culled from infected farms would be taken by approved transporters to known processing locations.

The upcoming cattle movements for dairy changeover day and to winter grazing properties should not be a problem, Mr Shirley said.

''I am confident the affected farms and road transport operators will have knowledge of the sites concerned.''

The ministry said it was ''absolutely safe'' for truck drivers and tradespeople to move from infected farms to other properties.

The protocols at the controlled sites meant vehicles posed ''a negligible biosecurity risk''.

''All vehicles are being cleaned and disinfected on leaving the properties. Vehicles carrying animals - for example transporters to the meat processing premises - are disinfecting on exit, going directly to the meat processor (not to other farms) and then being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at the plant on completing the job.''

Vehicles from neighbouring farms did not have to be cleaned, because the ministry considered the risk to be ''very small''. If that changed, it would notify farmers, it said.

DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand have produced biosecurity guidelines for graziers taking in dairy cattle. They were available on both organisations' websites.