Facial eczema is early this year

An early start to the facial eczema season has caught out some Waikato farmers. Traditionally weather in February is relatively dry, however a lot of rain combined with warm temperatures has led to high spore counts across the region reports The Waikato Times. The high risk conditions are up to three weeks earlier than those in the past 11 years. Te Awamutu veterinarian Greg McNeil said that as a result of the high counts he had seen a significant number of stock showing clinical signs of facial eczema since the end of February. Mr McNeil warned people needed to monitor their own farm because every farm was different. "Conditions vary from farm to farm and sometimes even paddock to paddock."DairyNZ researcher and veterinarian Gwyneth Verkerk said that while some people started preventive treatment at Christmas or in early January, many had been caught out because of a lack of effectiveness of water treatments and drenching. "I don't think it has been because farmers haven't done what they should, the rise has happened early and the water trough treatment and drenching haven't been as effective." Dr Verkerk said water treatments relied on cows drinking enough water and with the direct link to production at this time of the year that was not guaranteed. She said farmers needed to be careful and consistent about drenching treatments. According to Dr Verkerk the best preventive treatment was bolus tablets but she advised farmers to be aware copper supplements could impact on zinc treatments."There is a relationship between copper and zinc. While there is no scientific evidence to prove that there will be an impact, there is anecdotal evidence the uptake in zinc may not be as effective while the copper supplements are being used. People should be mindful that palm kernel supplements could have high levels of copper.