Why we are eradicating M. bovis
There are significant animal welfare and financial considerations for New Zealand if we don’t. Allowing M. bovis to spread – if no action had been taken – would cost industry an estimated $1.3 billion in lost productivity in the first 10 years,with ongoing productivity losses across the farming sector.
Until recently, New Zealand was one of a small number of places in the world unaffected by M. bovis. Eradicating M. bovis will support animal welfare, reduce our reliance on antibiotics, and protect our cattle industry.
The bacterium is an Unwanted Organism under the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Why we think we can get rid of it
Our independent Technical Advisory Group (TAG) believes that eradication is possible, based on what we currently know about M. bovis in NZ.
Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
All the evidence suggests that the M. bovis found in New Zealand spread from a single case of the bacteria, most likely entering New Zealand in early 2015. M. bovis was detected in New Zealand for the first time in 2017. No other country has tried to eradicate M. bovis.
