Facial Eczema programme ends for year

For Immediate Release 12th May 2009

Facial Eczema programme ends for year

Facial Eczema programme ends for year however prone properties in parts of Waikato and far North still have risk says AsureQuality

AsureQuality, the country’s leading provider of food safety and biosecurity assurance services says there have been isolated high counts still being detected for facial eczema in parts of the Upper and far North Island despite the lateness of the season.

Gribbles Veterinary Facial Eczema Risk Report of May 8 says some high counts still remain despite the cooler weather. Rain has fallen over much of the country this week so hot spots could still produce some high spore levels if the grass temperature is elevated.

The areas still with high readings include Maungaturoto, Opotiki, the Hauraki Plains and Matamata.

Moderate counts are being recorded in Raglan and Waipa.

AsureQuality’s Programme Leader Wayne Baxter says the season has been an average one for Facial Eczema conditions.

“Our danger levels generally peaked and returned to safe levels a month earlier than last year. Whilst clinical cases were experienced across the North Island we did not hear of wider areas suffering from facial eczema in their stock.

“Some herds were severely affected but the effect was generally spasmodic. This may have been due to the variable summer weather patterns or improved animal health precautions within the wider communities, “he said.

AsureQuality’s Meat Services Business reports that the Hawkes Bay and Auckland processing plants have all noted low level facial eczema liver damage in their sheep processing plants.

The one anomaly being the Waitotara plant which reported that some lamb lines had between 70-90% of livers condemned due to facial eczema in the last month.

There have been minimal carcass condemnations across these plants which reflects a relatively mild facial eczema season.

With lowered grass minimum temperatures and only isolated areas with high levels a decision has been made to wrap up the risk monitor for this year.

For those farmers on facial eczema susceptible properties in the above localities that are still under a High Risk it is advised that individual spore levels are monitored and acted upon. AsureQuality has partnered with Gribble Veterinary, AgriFeeds Limited, Meat & Wool NZ, RD1, Dairy NZ and a number of veterinary practices to produce regular facial eczema spore count reports during the season which runs from January to May.

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