In an end of year update the programme reports there are currently three active properties, all in the South Island and including the Five Star beef feedlot.
Despite the covid pandemic delivering a new set of challenges for the Mycoplasma bovis eradication plan, the programme has continued to commit to the study and research of the disease.
Acting M bovis programme director Neil Skeet says despite the added challenges, the programme has continued to make significant progress over 2021.
“And this could not have been done without the support of farmers who have been involved,” Skeet said.
“Being under movement restrictions can be a stressful time and we will continue to put farmers at the centre of the eradication programme.”
The programme has continued to commit to the study and research of M bovis with the M bovis science conference held in November.
This was the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) largest ever online conference that saw more than 220 researchers and stakeholders around the world dialling in.
Skeet says 2022 will see the programme continue to work hard to find the remaining infection while looking forward to what the new phase of the eradication efforts will entail.
More information about this is expected out over the next few months.
The Technical Advisory group (TAG) report and the independent review of the programme, both released this year, found the programme is on track to achieve a world-first eradication.
“They (reports) provided recommendations for the programme and the wider (New Zealand) biosecurity system, ensuring we are prepared for any future disease incursions,” he said.
In the meantime, the M bovis programme will continue to provide support for affected farmers with a team of managers in the waiting to take calls and progress anything that needs to be actioned over the Christmas and holiday break.
“Our support functions also have people available to ensure we can act on anything urgent over the holiday period,” he said.
Contact can be made by phoning 0800 008 333.
In an end of year update the programme reports there are currently three active properties, all in the South Island and including the Five Star beef feedlot.
This compares to 10 active properties at the end of 2020 and 23 in December 2019.
The national surveillance programme continues to provide confidence that M bovis is not widespread in NZ.
The programme has played a significant role in finding pockets of infection outside the known network.
The Bulk Tank Milk (BTM) screening resulted in 179 detect results and three confirmed properties this year.
In 2021, 316 compensation claims were closed totalling $23.7 million.
In total there are 269 cleared confirmed properties, 202 in South Island and 70 in the North Island with 69 being dairy properties, 144 beef and 59 listed as other, including lifestyle and grazing properties.
