WELLINGTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor on Tuesday set out a recovery package to help farmers get back to business more quickly after being cleared of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.
"Losing herds, pets and years of stock genetics built up over decades is an incredible hit to take for New Zealand's one shot to protect our national herd and economic base," Ardern said in a statement.
For those families whose farms have been cleared of Mycoplasma bovis, restocking marks an important turning point, as it allows them to begin moving forward again, Ardern said, adding that the government remains committed to phased eradication and to helping farmers get back to business.
"Today places a spotlight on the resilience of our primary sectors and those who work in them, with the focus on support for farmers who are helping to rebuild the national herd to full strength," O'Connor said.
It is important to remember that confirmation of newly identified properties does not mean the disease is spreading, the minister said, adding that it means the government is tracing historically infected cattle and milk movements, many of which occurred before the disease had been discovered.
Of New Zealand's 24,000 farms, 74 have been infected to date with 36 subsequently destocked and cleared of Mycoplasma bovis. Enditem
