A new case of the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis has been confirmed on an Ashburton farm, the Ministry for Primary Industries says.
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
First discovered in July last year, 14 farms from Hawkes Bay to Southland are now infected with the disease, with one other case in Ashburton.
It can cause lameness, mastitis and abortions in cows, but poses no risk to people.
The latest infected farm had a suspicious milk test in December and has been under quarantine since Christmas Eve.
The ministry's incident controller David Yard said there had been no sign of illness in the 600 cows on the farm.
He said the ministry was testing about 30 other farms that had contact with the infected property.
"Farmers in the area who have had some connection with the affected property will be contacted and those who do not hear from us in the next couple of weeks should consider they are under no increased risk."
MPI is also testing another Ashburton farm that has previously returned inconclusive results.
The ministry is planning two public meetings for Thursday - in Methven and Ashburton - to outline the situation.
