Federated Farmers have said they have one shot to eradicate the disease threatening livestock.

The cattle disease, mycoplasma bovis, has been found in Hastings in the North Island for the first time. It was first reported in South Canterbury in July, and has since moved to Winton in Southland.

National president Katie Milne told Mike Hosking it's all traceable back to the original source.

"If we've got any chance, now is it, while it's still contained to those farms that are associated to each other."

Milne says it's a slow moving disease so farmers need to put fences up to stop nose to nose contact.

55,000 on 250 properties have been carried out.

"Getting that volume of testing done that we need to do is a slow process.We have a bag it approach as you just can't get round to everyone all at once," Milne said.

LISTEN TO KATIE MILNE TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE