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Facial Eczema (FE) is a disease which causes lowered production and sometimes death from liver damage. Fungal spores produced by the fungus Pithomyces chartarum growing on pasture produce a toxin which when ingested by cattle damage the liver and bile ducts. The damaged liver cannot rid the body of wastes and a breakdown product of chlorophyll builds up in the body causing sensitivity to sunlight, which in turn causes inflammation of the skin. |
Preventative measures
Start FE control early
Ideally start zinc treatment two to three weeks before the spore growth danger period for maximum protection:
- Administer zinc as a drench or in water/feed supplies, or use zinc bullets as a standby. Refer to DairyNZ Farmfact: Facial Eczema - treatment and prevention (3-6)
- Spray pasture with fungicide
- Map high and low risk areas of the farm through spore counting
- Check prevention regimes where young stock are being grazed.
| FE spores love fresh new grass. Beware of conditions where rain produces fresh growth after a dry period, followed by another period of dry where the grass again dries (burns up). |
- DairyNZ guidelines for humane destruction are available through the DairyNZ Farmer Information Service Ph 0800 4 DAIRYNZ (0800 4 324 7969).
