The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed another farm has tested positive for the cattle disease mycoplasma bovis bringing the total number of infected properties to 21.
Cows on the farm infected with mycoplasma bovis in 2017. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook
That brings the total number of infected properties to 21.
The ministry said 13 of them are in Canterbury, six are in Southland, one is in Hawke's Bay and one - the latest one - in Middlemarch, in Otago.
The disease, which can cause lameness, mastitis and abortions in cows, is spread through nose-to-nose contact.
South Island cattle breeders had to withdraw their entries from last week's New Zealand Dairy Event in Feilding last week because of fears it could spread the disease.
The disease was first detected in July last year on a farm in the Waimate district in South Canterbury.