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Recent rainfall welcomed by farmers in many drought-prone regions has also sent facial eczema spore counts soaring.
Spore counts from the fungi in the dead grass and dry "litter" in pastures across most areas of the North Island have triggered alerts in facial eczema monitoring programmes, according to state-owned agriculture agency, AsureQuality.
"The rise has come as a result of the rain and the resultant humid conditions parts of the country experienced last week," said the agency's district manager Wayne Baxter.
The humidity spurs growth of a pasture fungus which produces a toxin that poisons animal livers, and puts chlorophyll breakdown product, into the bloodstream and triggers skin damage similar to severe sunburn.
Farmers are being urged to ensure they have systems in place for stock in the high spore count areas such as Whangarei, Gisborne, Wairoa, Wanganui and the Horowhenua regions.
AsureQuality - which has been working with AgriFeeds Ltd, Meat and Wool NZ, RD1, Dairy NZ, Gribble Veterinary, and a number of veterinary practices to produce regular facial eczema spore count reports - said an increase in spore counts to moderate levels was also expected in the Franklin, Hauraki Plains, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.
In such areas, farmers should also be thinking ahead about protecting their livestock, because by the time 5 per cent of a herd or flock had obvious skin damage, up to 70 per cent of the animals will have suffered liver damage.
Common techniques for preventing facial eczema include giving zinc oxide by regular oral drenching, zinc sulphate via the water supply, long-acting boluses inserted in a stomach of the animal, and spraying pasture with fungicide.
Infected animals displayed signs such as sensitivity to light and looked distressed - often with reddening and swelling of skin around the eyes, ears, lips, nose and udder - as well as seeking shade and showing restlessness, shaking and rubbing of the head and ears.
Facial eczema affects sheep, cattle, goats and deer throughout the North Island and the top of the South Island but Mr Baxter said changing weather patterns meant it could also be seen further south.
- NZPA
