MAF is urging farmers to take advantage of the range of licensed animal remedies to prevent facial eczema in sheep, cattle and goats. These products have been assessed against agreed criteria and meet appropriate levels of safety, quality and efficacy. The most effective animal remedy solution is currently oral zinc treatment. There are 18 products licensed by the Animal Remedies Board for this purpose, for sheep and cattle, most of these are drenches, but longer acting capsules are also available. One product also has a label claim for goats.
Prevention requires planning and information on spore counts.
Pasture management to avoid grazing pastures with dead plant material which foster the fungal growth is one tool. There are three registered pesticides available which reduce the spore counts in pasture. The list of available products can be obtained from Susan Robertson at the Agricultural Compound Unit of MAF, but all farm retail outlets in facial eczema prone areas will have stocks of licensed remedies available.