A New Zealand program to eradicate the country of Mycoplasma bovis has resulted in 50,000 cows being culled so far and nearly as many still scheduled to be killed. If successful, New Zealand will become the first country to rid its boundaries of the disease, which can lead to mastitis, pneumonia, abortions and lameness. Government and industry jointly spearheaded an eradication program because of the costly implications of an outbreak to the domestic herd.
Source:Drovers, December 28, 2018. Link. “Based on all the evidence presented to us, we are confident that eradication is possible and that we are on track in what’s a world-first but necessary action to preserve the value of our national herd and economic base,” adds Agriculture Minister Damen O’Connor.