New Mycoplasma bovis find on North Canterbury farm

The affected property is a mixed sheep and beef farm near Cheviot. Photo / File

A farm has tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis in north Canterbury.

It's the first time the disease has been found in the region and the affected property is a mixed sheep and beef farm near Cheviot.

As with all other infected properties, this farm is under movement controls restricting the movement of any risk goods, including animals, on or off the property, said Biosecurity NZ.

Read more Mycoplasma bovis coverage here

The farm was identified through the tracing of animals from known infected farms. It is connected to other infected properties through animal movements.

Mycoplasma bovis response Incident Controller Catherine Duthie said the discovery of new infected properties was not because the disease was spreading off infected farms.

"All the infected farms we know about are in quarantine lock down and no movements of risk goods, including animals, are allowed off them.

"Rather, the new finds are the result of our tracing uncovering historical movements of animals and then confirming the infection through testing. These movements, in many cases, took place before we even knew Mycoplasma bovis was in the country."

There were a number of farms in the North and South Islands under quarantine while testing is under way and it was very possible that more infected farms would be found.