Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied
Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor. Photo / Supplied
There's positive news in the battle against Mycoplasma bovis, as the number of properties infected with the cattle disease hasn't changed and is still at 28.
Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay saying, "we're still testing, going out checking but there's been no more confirmedinfected properties which gives everyone a chance to take a breath."
Although O'Connor says this is a positive situation to be in, there is still a lot of work to be done before the disease can be eradicated.
All cattle on farms infected with M. bovis will be culled but there are another 30 properties on restricted notice and the fate of those animals will be decided when infection is confirmed says O'Connor.
"It is a difficult, arduous and lengthy process...it's not just like a simple test for TB."
Also in today's interview, O'Connor defended the Labour coalition government's stance on large scale irrigation schemes saying the funding cuts will go toward other priorities.
"We support water storage and we understand the value of water for productions systems but we're just putting a brake on this saying, no - there's other priority areas for that money at this time."
