Conditions right for eczema outbreak

Prevention using zinc oxide is the best plan of attack on facial eczema, according to Agri-feeds Technical Manager, Andrew Oakley. Oakley says preventing animals getting facial eczema depends on reducing the intake of toxic pastures, or on regularly dosing animals "“ a proven method of reducing the effects of the toxin, sporidesmin. 'Trials have consistently shown zinc oxide to be highly effective at absorbing the sporidesmin toxin thus preventing its effects in ruminant animals reports The Gisborne Herald. Oakley explains that while fungicides are an alternative to controlling the development of spores in pasture, the active ingredient Carbendazim only prevents the germination of spores "“ it does not kill the fungal colonies that produce the spores.'Carbendazim also kills off beneficial fungal life in pastures thus affecting the chemical composition and quality of the pasture, as well as significantly reducing the soil worm population. 'Worms are very important to healthy pasture and reducing facial eczema spores as they remove the dead material from the base of the pasture sward, the very material pithomyces chartarum spores grow on,' he said. Adding zinc sulphate directly to the water trough is risky. Oakley warns there will be large variations in the concentration of zinc in the water throughout the day, especially on wet days, and therefore in the doses received by individual animals. He says it's essential that animals get the correct daily dose relative to their live-weight, to avoid any risk of zinc toxicity from overdosing.'The Time Capsule is a bolus that releases an even dose of zinc oxide over a four to five-week period for cows and six weeks for sheep. 'It is proven controlled release technology farmers can rely on, determined by AgResearch safety and dose trials,' said Oakley.