FARMERS ADVISED TO MAKE PLANS TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS OF FACIAL ECZEMA

Te Ao Hou, December 1958, Page 53

FARMERS ADVISED TO MAKE PLANS TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS OF FACIAL ECZEMA The Department of Agriculture warns farmers that if warm rains fall in late summer or autumn, after a spell of hot weather, facial eczema is likely to occur in districts which are usually affected. Experience during recent years has shown conclusively that the disease can be prevented by shutting sheep up at a rate which leaves no pasture in the paddock after 24 hours. Sheep should be shut up as soon as rains fall and should be confined until the weather becomes either hot and dry or much cooler and the pasture visibly hardens. If the summer is hot, plans should be made for action as follows: Good hay at 2lb per sheep per day will prevent loss of condition. Even if adequate hay is not available, ewes are not harmed by 1 or 2 weeks' starvation when ample water is provided. It is better to take precautions too often than to run the risk of a disastrous outbreak of facial eczema. If crops of rape, kale, turnips, or chou moellier are available, they can safely be grazed during the dangerous period. The grazing of such crops is the only satisfactory way of preventing the disease in lambs, which react badly to restricted grazing. Lucerne has not proved safe, possibly because of ryegrass which is frequently present as a weed, but in east coast districts paddocks of pure white clover are safe and lambs do well on them. Bulletin No. 338. “Losses from Facial Eczema Can be Prevented,” is available from all Department of Agriculture offices.