The latest official update on the spread of the cattle disease theileria ikeda shows 1268 herds have now been hit.
About 22 new herds a week are being hit by theileria ikeda. Photo: AGRESEARCH
The Ministry for Primary Industries report shows in December, about 22 new herds a week were being hit by theileria ikeda which can make cattle severely anaemic and killed in some cases.
The Ministry said most of the new cases have been on dairy farms.
Nearly all the affected farms were in the North Island, with just three affected farms in the south.
The blood borne pasite was first identified in Northland in 2012 and infected animals often needed blood transfusions.
Some suspected theileria ikeda arrived in the country through imports of Australian cattle.