There's sympathy for the first farm in the Tasman District to be found with Mycoplasma bovis

A mixed sheep and beef farm near Motueka has tested positive for the bacterial cow disease.

The discovery comes from MPI tracing historical movements of animals, not because the disease is spreading from infected farms.

Federated Farmers deputy dairy chair Wayne Langford says it's sad to hear and his thoughts are with those farmers and the family affected there.