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M. bovis semen call ‘premature’: MPI

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M. bovis arrived in New Zealand in 2014 or earlier. M. bovis arrived in New Zealand in 2014 or earlier. Photo: Lynn Grieveson

European-sourced-semen - The Ministry for Primary Industries isn’t ruling out that the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis arrived in New Zealand by European-sourced semen. David Williams reports for Newsroom.

It’s “premature” to zero in on imported bull semen as the likely source of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis, the Ministry for Primary Industries says.

Last week, Lincoln University honorary professor of agri-food systems Keith Woodford said it was “increasingly evident” that legally-imported European-sourced semen was the likely source of the disease – and that it struck first in Southland by late 2014 or even earlier.

While MPI response director Geoff Gwyn doesn’t rule out European-sourced semen as the source, he says it’s one of just seven potential entry pathways for the disease being considered. He tells Newsroom: “Mr Woodford is premature in his assessment of it being the likely source.”