Facial eczema (FE) remains a seasonal risk for many New Zealand dairy farms, particularly as warm, humid conditions persist through late summer.
Caused by cows ingesting spores from the fungus Pseudopithomyces toxicarius, facial eczema primarily damages the liver. In most cases, this damage occurs without visible skin symptoms, making the condition easy to miss until performance is affected.
By February, many farms are well into their facial eczema management plans, with zinc treatments already in place. This is also the point in the season where it’s worth checking whether your zinc dosage is delivering the level of protection you’d expect across the herd.
Spore levels can remain unpredictable through late summer, and liver damage can occur even when there are no obvious signs. Zinc remains the main line of defence, but its effectiveness depends on consistent intake at the correct dose — something that can vary more than expected during warmer months.
ZincCheck gives Fonterra suppliers a practical way to confirm how well their zinc programme is working in real time. Using bulk milk samples collected over several days, ZincCheck measures herd zinc levels and indicates whether at least 70 percent of cows are adequately protected. A green result provides reassurance that your current dosage is on track, while orange or red results highlight where adjustments may be needed.
Analysis of data from current ZincCheck users shows the value of getting zinc protection right. Farmers managing zinc levels to consistently achieve Green Zone results have been shown to prevent average losses of around 23 kgMS per day on an average-sized farm. Over a typical high-risk spore period of 90 days, this equates to approximately 2,023 kgMS. At current pay-out levels, that represents close to $20,000 in potential production protected. For Fonterra suppliers, the first ZincCheck is free, with additional tests available for $99 if further monitoring is needed.
The effects of facial eczema are not always immediate, but hidden liver damage can reduce milk production, shorten lactation length, and affect fertility well beyond summer. Staying alert through February, monitoring spore levels, and checking zinc coverage with ZincCheck can help protect herd performance for the rest of the season.
