M bovis: Farmers under stress as disease spreads

A Southland farmer is urging politicians on both sides to quit squabbling and take swift action to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. Almost 300 farms are now under regulatory control, meaning the movement of cattle is restricted while testing is carried out. That's up from about 130 properties a week ago. Thirty-eight farms have so far been confirmed as infected - and about eleven-thousand cows have been killed in a bid to stop the spread. In west Southland, Bevan Collie has set up a support group for farmers and vets in the area. He told RNZ political reporter Craig McCulloch farmers are under a lot of stress.