Mycoplasma bovis testing for Central District

Central Districts are set to set for mycoplasma bovis in cattle.

The national testing programme for Mycoplasma bovis is now in full swing.

For Central Districts the first collection was on 14 February, with 15 February a skip day, and the second collection will happen on 28 February, with 1 March as a skip day.

"This is when farmers in each region must put out their vials for collection by their company's tanker drivers," says Meagan Murdoch, communications manager at Fonterra.

This schedule is designed to recognise the order of the meetings where farmers are able to pick up their testing kits, plus any hand deliveries required, the amount of testing capacity in the country per day, as well as the need for farmers to put their two samples out 14 days apart," she said.

"If a farmer forgets to put their sample out or if for some reason the tanker driver doesn't collect it, the farmer can keep the sample in the fridge and put it out on their next collection day.

"It's important that farmers contact their Area Manager if they are unsure of their collection date."