News: Three more New Zealand farms positive for cattle disease

WELLINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Three more New Zealand farms have been identified as having a serious bacterial cattle disease, taking to six the total number of affected farms, the Ministry for Primary Industries said on Tuesday.

Two of the newly identified farms belonged to Van Leeuwen Dairy Group, which first had two farms test positive for the Mycoplasma bovis disease in July.

The owner of the third unnamed South Island farm had received a small number of calves from another infected farm, the ministry said in an emailed statement.

The disease is spread by close contact between animals and does not pose a food safety risk or any risk to humans.

The New Zealand dollar extended losses, falling from $0.7237 to $0.7224.