increase font size
Mark Benns (left) talks to Richie Martinovich.
Agritrade's Time Capsule bolus is credited with dealing soundly to facial eczema (FE) on the Martinovich family farm at Mangatangi, south of Auckland, the product supplier reports.
Richie Martinovich, a lower order sharemilker on the 700 cow 258ha farm, says he has a two-pronged approach to protecting his herd and young stock from FE.
“It’s relatively easy to dose your cows with zinc on the milking platform via a Dosatron inline dispenser and we vary the dose according to the spore count. We also administer zinc in the troughs, with an additive to make it palatable. This system works provided the cows drink enough water to get the required dose.
“It’s not so easy on the run-off however.”
All young stock are grazed on a 178ha runoff block 10km from the farm.
“We monitor their progress regularly, but because that care is remote, ie they’re not in yards every day, we needed a way to administer zinc to protect them from FE and give us peace of mind.
“Trough treatments weren’t an option as young stock don’t drink as much water as milking cows which inhibits the amount of zinc they receive so you can never be sure they’re protected…. You can’t afford one clinical case of FE because statistics suggest where there’s one, there are 40 or 50 sub-clinical.”
Martinovich says in 2007 the farm lost eight calves to FE and he couldn’t afford that continuing, “so in 2008 [he] began using Time Capsule, a zinc bolus administered at five weekly intervals, slowly releasing a steady supply of zinc.”
The Martinovich crossbred-herd has split calving, milking year round, so young stock on the runoff range from calves to rising two-year-olds.
“We begin measuring spore counts in December, taking grass samples to our vet. We start administering Time Capsule to the young stock in February with a second in mid-March. And if the vets recommend it we give a third dose.
“Administering the bolus isn’t an extra job; we simply add Time Capsule to the five week drench for B12, copper, worms, pour-on, etc. Generally two doses a season are enough… at around $6 per dose that’s $12 to protect an asset worth $2000-plus.”
He says that since 2008 he has had a couple of cows with clinical FE but they may not have been drinking a lot of water, which would inhibit the amount of zinc. “However, in the same time period, we haven’t had one case of FE in our young stock.”
The Time Capsule was developed at AgResearch in the 1980s. Agritrade owns the intellectual property and the product is made at its Hamilton plant.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
Reecently Beef + Lamb New Zealand hosted a webinar giving farmers an update on findings from the Sheep Poo study, featuring Dr Cara Brosnahan and vet Ginny Dodunski. This study, which is entering its final year, is a key part of the Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts (EFEI) programme and is helping build a clearer picture of how FE affects farms nationwide.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
A breakthrough in the understanding of Facial Eczema (FE) in livestock could bring New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s impact.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…
