New Zealand: Mid Canterbury controlled cattle area notice lifted

A controlled area set up in Mid Canterbury to stop the spread of cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis has been stood down. The Ministry for Primary Industries (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 have been cleared of stock and have gone through the cleaning and disinfecting process. Eradication programme director Simon Andrew said MPI would continue to monitor the area closely though the controlled notice was stood down on Friday. It was taking a cautious approach so it could act quickly should there be reinfection in the wider national herd, he said. “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 ...