Spore Count
Welcome to the spore counts for 2015!
Spore counts have started to climb in recent days due to the rain we have been having.
Remember prevention is better than cure.
| Location | Week starting
12 Jan 2015 |
Week starting 19 Jan 2015 |
Week Starting 26 Jan 2015 |
Week Starting 2 Feb 2015 |
Week Starting 9 Feb 2015 |
Week Starting 16 Feb 2015 |
Week Starting 23 Feb 2015 |
|
| Focus Farm | 3 @ 0 | 2 @ 0 1 @ 10,000 |
1 @ 10,000 1 @ 30,000 |
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| Otakiri | 15,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 1 @ 0 1 @ 20,000 1 @ 40,000 |
1 @ 10,000 | |||
| Kawerau / Onepu | 1 @ 0 1 @ 85,000 |
1 @ 145,000 | 1 @ 35,000 | |||||
| Manawahe Road | 2 @ 0 1 @ 5,000 1 @ 20,000 |
2 @ 5,000 1 @ 20,000 1 @ 25,000 |
1 @ 15,000 | |||||
| Thornton | 10,000 | 1 @ 70,000 | ||||||
| Edgecumbe | 90,000 40,000 |
1 @ 55,000 1 @ 155,000 |
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| Awakeri | 5,000 | 2 @ 0 1 @ 10,000 1 @ 20,000 |
3@ 0 1 @ 10,000 1 @ 15,000 1 @ 65,000 1 @ 95,000 |
2 @ 25,000 1 @ 5,000 1 @ 35,000 |
1 @ 25,000 2 @ 145,000 |
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| Waimana | ||||||||
| Taneatua |
Facial eczema spores are considered to be toxic to animals when they reach 40,000. However continuous lower levels of spores over a long period of time will also cause clinical outbreaks in stock eg skin lesions, raw skin around the eye area and reddish and sore udders. In severe cases of facial eczema animals can have effects such as depression, cows off their milk, lack of appetite and liver damage which can result in animal deaths.
There are a few treatment options out there and prevention is much easier than cure.
Zinc sulphate – This is a water treatment so you are treating the drinking water of the animals.
You need to make sure there is no other source of water available to the animal for this treatment to be effective. It is ideal to start this treatment at a low dose and then increase slowly to a full dose as needed. Zinc sulphate is very bitter, so starting at a low dose at least they get used to the taste. There are a few flavour additives on the market such as Grapple or Caramallo – ask Malcolm or Donna for information on these products.
Zinc oxide – This is a drenchable treatment. With this treatment you know that every animal is getting a full dose every time.
Adult cows need drenching every day and young stock will need drenching every 2-3 days. For more information on this treatment please feel free to phone and speak to your vet or to John or Donna.
Zinc boluses – There are two different boluses on the market at present.
Time capsules have been around for a long time. These come in different sizes for different weight ranges. Boluses get administered down the throat of the animal. Time capsules will give you 4 weeks cover.
Face Guard boluses have been around for around 3 years now. These are also administered down the throat of the animal. They now come in two sizes and you give more or less boluses depending on the weight of the animal. These will give you 4 – 6 weeks cover.
Come into the store and have a chat with us and we will help you make the best decision for your situation.
We do spore counts in house at the cost of $15.00. We need around 100 grams of grass cut right down to where the cows are eating to, the spores hide down the bottom in all the rubbish stuff at the base of the plant.
