Four thousand cattle on five properties infected with the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis are to be culled. DairyNZ Chief Executive Dr Tim Mackle spoke to The Country about the "tough" decision the Ministry for Primary Industries has made.
Although Dr Mackle says culling stock is the right decision it is still "very, very hard" and distressing for farmers involved.
Dr Mackle talks to The Country's Jamie Mackay about compensation prospects for affected farms, including the sharemilkers, political criticism of how the outbreak has been handled and the logistics involved in the cull.
Listen to the full interview in the Soundcloud embed below: