It has been an exceptional year for protecting the country from Bovine Tuberculosis (TB), according to the Animal Health Board.

AHB Chief Executive William McCook, says in the organisation’s Annual Report for 2011 that the drop in infected herd numbers, to around 80, is the lowest recorded total since the TB programme was first introduced.

Mr McCook says other milestones in the year include the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's approval of the Revised National Pest Management Strategy and Central Government’s decision to continue funding support for the TB programme.

He says the AHB has the mandate to continue to control, and eventually wipe out the disease from some parts of New Zealand.

The current strategy aims to eradicate the disease from wildlife across 2.5 million hectares over the next 15 years.