M. bovis probe

M. bovis eradication programme head Simon Andrew says it could be several months yet before MPI is satisfied that this outbreak is contained and that there are no other cases.

The outbreak on the farm, which runs about 1,600 cows in the Selwyn District, was picked up by routine bulk tank screening and came just months after it was thought that M. bovis had been eradicated in the country. But at the time, Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor warned that with spring coming, there was the possibility of new cases being found.

At present, MPI is carrying out special testing on ten farms adjacent to the infected property.

Andrew says they are also continuing to investigate any stock movements, either to or from the dairy farm at the centre of the investigation. Normal bulk tank screening is also continuing throughout the country. He describes the investigation as quite methodical and far reaching and says accurate NAIT records are a key factor for him and his staff.

"We rely so much on NAIT records. It's important that farmers keep these up to date, because when they are not up to date, it is much harder for us to find missing links in the chain of animal movements. From a farmer's perspective, if their records are good, the testing process is much faster and any restrictions on farmers can be lifted earlier," he says.

He says the other major help in the investigation is genomics. At this stage it appears the infected farm has the strain of M. bovis known as type 21, which is the same as previous infections.

In coming weeks, the MPI team will continue their investigations and testing, and will be working with and supporting the farmer and their family as they move to cull the cows from that property.