The survey is the next step in ensuring the eradication of M bovis, Ministry for Primary Industries chief science adviser Dr John Roche says.
The M bovis programme is doing the survey to provide extra assurance the disease is not widespread in the national breeding and stud herds.
Plans to progress the national surveillance of the beef industry were highlighted in the October report from the independent Technical Advisory Group.
Over the next 12 months it is planned to test 2500 herds that have not previously been part of the M bovis programme.
Roche said ongoing sampling and monitoring of incoming feedlot cattle give confidence the infection is not common in beef breeding herds.
“This national screening of beef cattle will allow us to determine if there is any unexpected infection in the beef industry and at a later date will help provide confidence that we are free from the disease,” Roche said.
Beef + Lamb chief executive Sam McIvor said while the industry is confident M bovis is not widespread in breeding or stud herds it is important to make sure that is the case.
“We know that this disease and the eradication process have a major impact on the lives of farmers, their families and communities and we thank farmers for their co-operation during the survey.
“We also want to take this opportunity to remind farmers there is still a risk of bringing infection onto farms and all farmers need to be taking the right steps to protect their herds.”
National Animal Identification and Tracing compliance is a vital part of helping to achieve eradication.
He urged farmers to ensure every animal is tagged and registered with every movement between Nait locations recorded.
To minimise the pressure on farming operations extra mustering of stock will not usually be required for the screening because sampling of beef cattle will be done when Ospri takes samples for the TBfree Programme.
Farmers with cattle being tested for M bovis as part of their TB testing will be told in advance.
When cattle are presented for testing 50-220 animals will be sampled.
Screening at AsureQuality laboratories will use the ELISA blood test.
Farmers should expect to be contacted within three weeks if results indicate that there’s possible infection and more farm testing is required. Farmers will also be told of negative results.
Six new facts
Six new cases of Mycoplasma bovis have been confirmed bringing the total of confirmed properties nationally to 226.
Of the new cases confirmed in the week up to January 24, three were in the South Island and three in the North Island.
Making up the 226 confirmed properties are 117 beef farms, 57 dairy farms and 52 other, including lifestyle blocks.
A further 204 properties remain under notice of direction where testing is underway while 264 properties are under active surveillance being at risk of having Mbovis with testing to begin.
To date 134,925 animals have been culled as part of the eradication programme with 1413 properties released from notice of direction restrictions.
A total $125 million has been paid in compensation with 1529 claims paid and completed and 122 claims currently being processed.
New claims are taking and average 22 working days to be paid.
