Four new properties have tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis this month, however they are all connected to the original property and within the expected pattern so the Ministry for Primary Industries is treating the news as a positive.
DairyNZ Chief Executive Dr Tim Mackle spoke to The Country Early Edition's Rowena Duncum saying he agrees with MPI, however it is still "tough for the farmers involved."
"Obviously it's not good news when we get more infected properties but at the same time it is a positive...the fact that they are connected to this network. If they weren't...it makes it more difficult to piece together the pieces of the puzzle and therefore get on top of this disease."
Dr Mackle says the development of a commercial diagnostic tool will be really helpful and that "farmers have been crying out for that."
Also in today's interview: Dr Mackle talks about what farmers should look out for when moving stock and the DairyNZ's Farmers' Forum happening next month.
