A Controlled Area Set Up In Mid Canterbury To Stop The Spread Of Cattle Disease Mycoplasma Bovis Is Being Stood Down

A controlled area set up in Mid Canterbury to stop the spread of cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is being stood down. The MPI set up the area around the infected ANZCO Five Star feedlot near Ashburton in October – after the disease began to spread in the area. Eight farms within the controlled area notice including the feedlot were cleared of stock and have gone through the cleaning and disinfecting process. Eradication programme director Simon Andrew says MPI will continue to monitor the area closely though the controlled notice ended on Friday. To ensure swift action can be taken, the feedlot will remain under a Restricted Place notice for a period while precautionary surveillance activities are undertaken, and we are assured our actions have been successful. Three farms remain infected with M bovis. Since it was first found in New Zealand in 2017 – 276 properties have been cleared of the disease.