M. bovis (Mycoplasma bovis)

UPDATE: Government plans to go ahead with eradication attempt   Details below the informational link below.

In response to the lack of local understanding, perhaps due to the limited comprehensive information available to the general public, I’ve found a good survey article about M. bovis, its causes, its effects, why it’s so hard to diagnose and treat, and why it’s so devastating to the animals and those responsible for them.

Yes, it’s worse than Foot & Mouth Disease.

Yes, it’s serious.

Yes, it’s endemic in other places, but in NZ, we have a chance of stopping it.

Have a read of this PDF if you’d like more information. It’s in vet-language, but I’ve highlighted the bits which might be important to you from a layperson’s standpoint, with definitions and clarifications in the notes I’ve added to the pages.

I hope this helps explain why it’s so important for us to deal with this disease NOW. Later will be too late, if it’s not already.

For me, it’s to prevent more pain and suffering to cows, and more.

For others, it may also be the economics on their own farms,
but for:

ALL  New Zealanders, if M. bovis were to spread throughout the country, it would cripple our primary industry, which is dairy.   

The knock on effects of a crippled dairy industry would be no less than catastrophic for the New Zealand economy.

M. bovis survey article annotated

click above link to read the PDF. May have to download and use Acrobat Reader to see the comments.

NZVA is calling for farmers who see the following nonspecific signs, which could indicate M. bovis

• Mastitis in dry and milking cows.
• Arthritis in cows.
• Late term abortions.
• Premature calves.

to call their veterinarian urgently. 

UPDATE:

Details of the announcement are available here and there is a more detailed Q&A here. You can also see a press release from NZVA President Dr Peter Blaikie here.