Hi All Gippsland dairyfarmers,
Natural rainfall dairying areas of Gippsland tend to not have facial
eczema as much as the irrigation area, but we still do have it. Several
years ago in the Yinnar area it was very bad, probably the last time it was
bad in the irrigation area. One farmer, a stud breeder, lost several of
his best cows. We get it any time of the year - often in the spring, but
usually only the odd cow. At this time of the year when we are feeding
summer crops we get the occasional as of "photo". We have probably had
half a dozen over the last six weeks but tend to notice them very quickly
off their milk, standing under trees, flicking tails etc) and treat with
antihistamine before they get too bad. Usually caused by the weeds in the
crop. We had our worst case ever last spring when the cow could hardly
walk, nearly every part of her body was swollen, we managed to save her but
she still has the scars and bare back even now.
When we were in NZ in the 80's they spoke a lot about facial eczema and
many large herds were drenching daily with zinc. It just became one of the
daily chores, together with daily measuring of the spores in the ground.
Can it be controlled with zinc in the feed?
Hope the weather settles down soon and it goes away for you all. It must
be placing a great deal of extra pressure and stress (there's that word
again) on those who have a large % of their herds with it.
Peter & June Owen
Dairyfarmers
Victoria
Australia
Ph/Fax 03 51681225
email: owenps@bigpond.com
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