Listen: Mycoplasma bovis – bad but not 'the end of the world'

Mycoplasma bovis causes udder infections, abortions, pneumonia and arthritis in cattle. Photo / File

Cattle disease Mycoplasma Bovis has been found in the North Island for the first time.

The disease has been detected in Hastings, on one of four new properties that have tested positive.

The other new sites were in Winton and Ashburton, with early indications suggesting the infected properties had links to the Van Leeuwen Dairy Group. The new sites brought the national total to 12.

Ministry for Primary Industries response director Geoff Gwyn spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about the new findings and whether he believes the cattle disease can be contained.

"We don't want this disease. We're doing everything we can to get rid of it, but it isn't the end of the word. It's not a food safety risk and it has no impact on our ability to trade milk and meat products."

Gywn says the spread does have links to the localised infection in Oamaru but he is concerned about "what other movements have been on and off those properties for the last 10 months."

Finally Geoff talks to Jamie about the concept of people building a biosecurity fortress around their farms.

Listen below: