Research delivering tools to combat rising facial eczema
New Zealand must "throw everything we can" at the problem of facial eczema, says Beef + Lamb NZ's sector science strategy manager Dr Suzi Keeling.
It has launched an all-in-one zinc product to prevent the painful, and often hidden, disease.
Zincmax+ has organic copper added to overcome the reduced copper absorption associated with dosing with zinc and consequent depletion of liver copper levels, plus a peppermint flavour to counter the palatability problems of straight zinc products.
Altum's animal nutrition manager Jackie Aveling warns just a few cows showing signs of FE can mean a large proportion of the herd are affected subclinically.
"Not only can milk production in these cows be depressed by up to half, but slow wasting or sudden death may also occur in cows that have shown no prior symptoms when they are put under stress, often after calving," she points out.
Reduced drinking with traditional zinc sulphate treatments also impacts production, and there's the risk stock don't get enough zinc to combat the FE, which is the whole reason the zinc's put in the water.
"Zinc treatment can also have a negative impact on young stock, impacting their copper reserves, which are a key requirement for healthy growth," she says.
Zincmax+ is metered into the water system in the same way as other zinc products, except at 28g/cow/day rather than 25g/cow/day to allow for the added ingredients.
Late last month cool temperatures were keeping a lid on spore counts nationwide but Aveling says it is important farmers keep monitoring counts, and have a plan in place to start treatment early before spore counts become high.
Zincmax+ is part of Altum's OptiMAX range of regionally specific animal nutrition products designed to work in harmony with a complete nutrition programme by filling the micro-nutrient gaps.
