Mycoplasma bovis and cattle races.
Between Thames and Paeroa alone there are about 30 cattle races that cross our RailTrail cycleway. Currently and throughout our wet winters this means that we cyclists cross substantial numbers of what are virtual rivers of soggy cow poo.
A question that concerned me was the possibility that we cyclists may contribute to the spread of the disease should any one local farm along the trail become infected.
It seems bovine urine and faeces are not considered to be particularly dangerous disease vectors for M. bovis, but the bacteria do survive for some time in damp habitats, even straw bedding, so there is surely some risk. All it may take is a single coughing cow to infect a single crossing that may then spread the disease to all properties along the trail.
However, it then occured to me that there are many other cattle races that cross public roads all over the plains. If cow faeces can harbour this bacterium vehicles will spread it via their tyres to wherever they can drive.
I suggest there are vital lessons to be learnt here. There will be outbreaks of new diseases in the future and one may certainly ask if our farms can impliment adequate biosecurity measures.
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