New testing tools target parasite threats
Farmers are set to benefit from a suite of new diagnostic tools from Techion over the next two years, including worm identification for cattle, coccidia testing for sheep, cattle and poultry, and tests for Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Johnes Disease (JD).
This follows the launch of an exclusive strategic partnership between Techion and Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to Farmlands customers.
Farmers visiting their local Farmlands store will see Fecpak’s new Animal Health Multi Test Kits in one and three sample options, allowing farmers to select multiple tests from a single sample collection.
The initial tests available include:
Faecal Egg Count (FEC)
Facial Eczema (pasture and faecal)
Liver Fluke
Worm ID, a new, cutting-edge test that identifies sheep parasite species within hours of sample processing
Both companies say the Animal Health Multi Test Kits are easy to use, with video instructions and a simple phone based submission.
Customers choose the test or tests they want and can simply have the cost of testing required added to their Farmlands account.
This makes accessing professional-grade animal health diagnostics easily available.
If farmers choose to, they can instantly share their test results with their Farmlands rep, veterinarian or animal health provider.
Rapid test result turnaround times will be enabled by deploying Fecpak into regional areas with backup provided by the Techion Fecpak laboratory.
Techion’s Greg Mirams says Worm ID is a significant advance in parasite diagnostics.
Traditionally, identifying the worm species relied on larval culture — a slow, costly and labour-intensive process that could take up to two weeks to get results.
Fecpak Worm ID uses digital images and analytical software to analyse parasite eggs to identify the worm genus in the sample.
“Knowing exactly what worm species are present allows farmers and animal health professionals to make informed and targeted drench decisions,” says Mirams, who founded Techion in the early 1990s.
“This precision approach is essential if we want to slow the development of drench resistance and protect the effectiveness of the products farmers rely on.”
Under the new agreement, Farmlands will also stock Fecpak FECRT (Faecal Egg Count Reduction Testing), a practical, independent tool that helps farmers confirm whether the drench they are using is still effective.
Delivered as a DIY on-farm kit, Fecpak FECRT enables farmers to easily test the effectiveness of their drenches making drench resistance testing more accessible and cost-effective.
Regular FECRT testing helps identify resistance early, before it leads to significant production losses.
Tanya Houghton, Farmlands CEO, says the partnership reflects its ongoing commitment to innovation to support the challenges farmers are facing now and will increasingly face in the future.
"Drench resistance is a growing challenge that's already affecting farm productivity across New Zealand, and farmers need better tools to get ahead of it.
“This partnership with Fecpak gives our customers faster, independent animal health information, delivered through our network.
“Even in a challenging environment, Farmlands is committed to investing in our farmers' futures, and getting the right tools into their hands at the right time.”
As well as Animal Health Multi Test Kits, Farmlands will be selling Fecpak’s on-farm product range, alongside the original FEC Unit which enables on-farm FEC testing for sheep, cattle, equine and camelids.
Fecpak’s new Micro-I 300 digital microscope will enable farmers to undertake Worm ID testing and facial eczema testing on farm.
“This is just the beginning,” Mirams says.
“Over the next couple of years we’ll be adding a suite of new tests for farmers. First on the development list is Worm ID for cattle, which will be followed with Coccidia testing for sheep, cattle and poultry, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) and Johnes to name a few.”