Facial Eczema on the Rise

22 February 2010

Facial eczema affects stock throughout the North Island and northern South Island and costs New Zealand farmers dearly, running as high as $95 million in a bad year in the dairy sector alone.

AsureQuality has partnered with Gribble Veterinary, Agrifeeds Limited, RD1, Dairy NZ and a number of veterinary practices to produce regular eczema spore count reports for New Zealand farmers.

Farmers now have an online resource to help track facial eczema with weekly spore count reports posted on line with www.asurequality.com, and www.rd1.com/sporecounts.

As expected in this early stage of the season, rain, heavy dews, high humidity and high grass temperatures are providing the perfect weather conditions for spore development and spore counts are continuing to rise.

Areas recording the highest counts last week were Waihi, Hamilton and Horowhenua and Wairarapa in the lower North Island.

AsureQuality's facial eczema monitoring programme manager, Wayne Baxter reports that results are indicating widespread risk so all farmers in facial eczema prone areas should be taking precautions. 
 
Preventative measures available at this stage include regular oral drenching of zinc oxide or the use of intra-ruminal long-acting boluses, treatment of water supplies and spraying pasture with fungicide. 

Current research is available from Dr Chris Morris, AgResearch, Ruakura, who is working on the genetics of facial eczema resistance.

Infected animals may display signs of photosensitisation and look distressed. The first signs are often reddening and swelling of skin exposed to the sun (i.e. around the eyes, ears, lips and nose) as well as restlessness, shaking and rubbing of the head and ears, and seeking shade.

About facial eczema

Facial eczema is responsible for serious production losses with affected stock suffering liver and skin damage, which together contribute to ill-thrift, reduced fertility, reduced milk production, and in severe cases death.

Warm, humid conditions support the growth of a fungus (Pithomyces chartarum) in pasture which produces a toxin (sporidesmin) that poisons the liver. As the liver cannot get rid of phylloerythrin, a chlorophyll breakdown product, it circulates in the blood. Phylloerythrin releases energy when exposed to sunlight causing skin damage similar to severe sunburn.

Susceptible stock are cattle, sheep, deer and camelids.  While the above preventative options are available as short term measures, those dairy or sheep farmers with facial eczema prone farms should consider selecting stock with resistance to facial eczema.

For further information please call:

AsureQuality Customer Services
0508 00 11 22