Mycoplasma bovis: MPI says stay calm but farmers not happy

Nathan Guy (left) says MPI are on top of the outbreak but dairy farmer Andy Thompson is not happy. Photo / File

Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy is advising farmers to stay calm over the recent cattle disease outbreak.

Mycoplasma bovis has been found in more than a dozen cows on a South Canterbury farm. This disease has never been seen in New Zealand before.

MPI is "all over" the outbreak and has the farms in question on lockdown for further testing, says Guy.

The Minister for Primary Industries tells Jamie Mackay on The Country radio show mycoplasma bovis is not a food safety issue and will not affect international trade.

Listen to the full interview with Nathan Guy in the Soundcloud embed below:

Nathan Guy may say everything is under control but one dairy farmer is not happy with the outbreak saying "we're on an island, we should be able to stop this stuff getting in here."

Andy Thompson told Jamie Mackay he is angry the cow disease found its way into New Zealand in the first place.

It's the job of MPI and scientists to stop these incursions occurring says Thompson - it's not up to farmers.

Listen to the full interview with Andy Thompson in the Soundcloud embed below: