An honour for the woman whose research led to the discovery of Mycoplasma bovis

Oamaru vet, Dr Merlyn Hay, has received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Primary Industries.

An awards judge says Hay left no stone unturned diagnosing the unusual and distressing symptoms in cows from a South Canterbury property.

Her nominator says Hay's detection of the disease meant there's a good chance of eradicating it.

The nominator says her work was even more remarkable because Mycoplasma bovis wasn't in the country, nor among the high-profile diseases vets are expected to keep an eye out for.