The deadly and highly infectious disease Bovine TB  exists in wildlife accross 40% of New Zealand.

Possum continue to be the main source of the disease in cattle and deer herds.

In an effort to eradicate the disease from wildlife across 2.5 million hectares of the country the Animal Health Board is recruiting possum hunters.

A recent nationwide call for new possum and ferret control contractors has already resulted in 100 responses.

AHB Contracts Manager Robert Allen says he is delighted with the response and says applications are coming in from people with a wide variety of backgrounds.

“There certainly is now a very viable industry to contract with the animal health board.

"We’ve got in excess of one hundred contracting companies on our books to do this work for us now, throughout New Zealand.”

MeanwhileTBfree Bay of Plenty has announced that BoP cattle and deer herds are free of bovine tuberculosis, now that two previously infected properties have been cleared of the disease.

Committee Chairman Earle Wells says the infections were cleared up through an extensive testing regime.

“There was a breakdown of two farms in the area unfortunately but there you have it. One of the farmers, the share milker, did everything he was supposed to do.'

Earle Wells said the effect on the farmer was severe.

"He had a breakdown. I would say that was quite shattering as far as he was concerned because he lost quite a few animals.”

Earle says the situation highlights the serious need for herd owners to remain vigilant in protecting their farms from the potential ravages of TB.

“Really its case of farmers needing to be aware of the possibilities. What we are having now is because, other than a couple of these glitches, we have been TB free for a number of years now.

"The biggest problem is people being complacent, and saying they are free of TB and have nothing to worry about.

"But a break out in a herd can spread. If it’s not taken under serious control it can wreck the whole programme fairly quickly.”