The Ministry for Primary Industries is making changes to its on-farm sampling for the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
It says this will reduce the amount of time many farms spend under surveillance and restricted movement controls.
So far 182 farms have tested positive for M bovis and 111,000 cattle have been culled, as the government works to eradicate the disease.
Nearly 1000 more properties considered at risk have had to be placed under restricted movement controls, meaning stock can't go off farm while testing is carried out.
A total 263 farms are under Notices of Direction at the moment, which means stock can enter the farm but not leave, pending testing.
The rest have since been released.
Today MPI announced changes which it said would mean that, for many farmers, only one round of sampling and testing would be required.
Blood sample results will also now only be classified as positive or negative - not suspicious.
Beef & Lamb NZ said waiting times for some farmers could be cut from 10 weeks to five.
Most farms are found to be M bovis free.