Posts by New Plymouth Veterinary Group
2091 days ago

SPORE COUNTS for week 18.02.19

New Plymouth Veterinary Group

Please see below the Spore Count readings for New Plymouth from 18.02.19. We will be updating this for you on Neighbourly on a weekly basis. If you are concerned about your stock, please feel free to contact the clinic on (06) 7584006.

FACIAL ECZEMA - What is it?

Facial eczema (FE) is a disease of grazing ruminants and camelids. It is caused via liver damage by a toxin produced in a fungal spore that grows in the dead “litter” at the pasture base.

The ideal growing conditions are warm and damp with high humidity – often following a dry spell. If you see mushrooms growing it is ideal FE conditions.

The toxin damages the liver so that is can no longer metabolise correctly resulting in a build-up of chlorophyll in the blood (the green colour in grass). This chlorophyll reacts with sunlight to cause a deep-seated sunburn that results in the characteristic eczema signs.

Signs to look for

- a drop in milk production

- cows are restless, seeking shade and lick their udder

- exposed unpigmented or thin skin reddens, thickens and peels

Not all animals affected with facial eczema show physical signs (i.e. clinical FE) although liver damage (i.e. subclinical FE) has occurred. It is estimated that for every clinical case there will be 10 cows with subclinical facial eczema.

Prevention

There is no cure for facial eczema, so prevention is the only way of protecting animals. To be effective, preventative measures need to be in place before eczema spores are found.

Preventative measures include monitoring pasture spore count and either dosing animals with zinc or spraying pastures with a fungicide

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More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.

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5 days ago

Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.

This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.

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Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
  • 85.5% Yes
    85.5% Complete
  • 13.3% No
    13.3% Complete
  • 1.1% Other - I'll share below
    1.1% Complete
2045 votes
C
1 day ago

Baroque Spring Concert, Methodist Centre, Sunday November 24th, 4pm

Chris from Lynmouth - Moturoa

Taranaki's Baroque Ensemble, 'I Barrochi' will be presenting their Spring concert on Sunday 24th November at 4pm. The programme includes Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.4 with soloists Adam Jasinski (violin), Barbara Mitchell (recorder) and Jocelyn Beath (flute). Students of Amanda Henry will play some Baroque pieces on the grand piano, followed by Soprano soloist Janey Mackenzie singing Bach's Cantata 'Ich habe genug' accompanied by the Baroque Ensemble.
Complimentary afternoon tea and coffee, Koha appreciated.

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