Early zinc prevention key as farmers prepare for Facial Eczema season
As we move towards the warmer, more humid months, farmers across New Zealand are already preparing for the annual challenge of facial eczema (FE).
While the feed situation remains tight, confidence in the payout has allowed many farmers to keep pushing production without compromising cow body condition. For most, the strategy has been to maintain high levels of feed input to protect production through the back end of calving and into mating.
It has been great to see the rural economy in such good shape. We are seeing a strong commitment from farmers to keep cows in optimal condition, despite the recent weather conditions, which reflects both the confidence in the dairy sector and the resilience of farming communities across New Zealand. Our role has been to support that - ensuring quality feed continues to reach farms when it's needed most.
Across much of the country, farmers have been facing an unusually tough spring. The combination of poor grass growth and variable weather has led to an increased reliance on supplementary feed, driving demand for stockfood over the past couple of months.
At J Swap Stockfood, we've seen this demand first-hand. Our team has been working around the clock to keep feed moving to farms, ensuring that delivery schedules remain as tight as possible despite the challenges. Our trucks have been running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, delivering straights and blends across the North and South Islands.
Managing through shortages
With demand spiking nationwide and much of our raw material imported from overseas, product shortages have been an ongoing challenge. Weather disruptions have compounded the situation, with shipping delays and irregular docking schedules affecting supply lines. Prolonged periods of wind and swell at ports have delayed vessels from Australia and Southeast Asia, meaning that at times, feed has been arriving later than planned.
Despite these pressures, our logistics and operations teams have worked tirelessly to prioritise deliveries and manage supply across the network. Our ability to store and distribute from multiple sites - combined with owning and operating our own fleet of trucks - gives us the flexibility to adapt quickly when conditions change.
The grass is growing
As soil temperatures lift and pastures recover, feed conditions are beginning to stablise across much of New Zealand. While the pressure is easing, many farms are still feeding at higher levels to protect body condition and maintain milk flow through mating.
J Swap Stockfood continues to work alongside customers to adjust feed plans as conditions change - reviewing blend ratios, optimising protein and energy levels, and ensuring timely delivery as demand patterns shift. With improved grass growth ahead, the focus is now on consistency, recovery, and getting the most out of every tonne of feed through the second half of spring.
Joe Hardman is stockfood sales manager for J Swap Stockfoods. Contact him on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
