Welcome to our Facial Eczema Risk Spore Count Bulletin for 2026 – this article will be updated each week, so please revisit to see what the spore count is in your area.
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Counts for week ending 13 March 2026
| Feilding | Awapuni | Tararua | Taumarunui | Levin | |
| No. of sites monitored: | 20 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
| Average Spore Count | 60,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Highest Spore Count: | 730,000 | 15,000 | 50,000 | 400,000 | 35,000 |
| Lowest Spore Count: | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Facial Eczema Risk Rating (Based on average spore count) | HIGH | LOW | LOW | MED-HIGH | MED-HIGH |
With temperatures fluctuating last week, the spore counts are showing inconsistencies.
Some sites have dropped, and some have increased. It is important to test your own property to help you determine your own risk. Early signs of facial eczema affecting stock include increased restlessness, head shaking/rubbing, appetite decline, fall in milk yield, shade seeking, kicking off cups, and licking flanks and back.
If you are unsure whether your zinc supplementation is working, talk to us about blood testing to check zinc serum levels.
Where we monitor
Resources
Spore counts can vary greatly between properties and even between paddocks. We encourage farmers to bring in grass samples to get a more accurate idea of the facial eczema risk on their own property. Spore counting is $37 (incl GST) per sample, dropping to $30 for multiple samples.
For instructions on how to cut grass for spore counting, please see HERE
What is a toxic spore level? It is best not to use absolute levels, as stock grazing pasture with spore counts as low as 20,000-40,000 can sustain liver damage. More important considerations are rate of spore count rise, prevailing weather conditions, and grazing intensity at the time. Toxin effects on the liver are cumulative. Play it safe – start prevention as soon as spores are detected.
Contact us if you would like more information on bringing in your own samples for testing.