Farmers built this dataset – mapping facial eczema across New Zealand.
The Sheep Poo Study has now finished. Over three FE seasons (2023–2026), 419 sheep farmers became citizen scientists, sending in sheep poo samples every two weeks from October to May. For the first time, New Zealand has a national picture of where animals are exposed to FE, not just where we expected it.
Thank you to every farmer who took part.
By the numbers
- 419 farmers took part
- 10,257 lab results
- 25,630 detailed observations from the nested study, which followed up to 40 farms closely with blood tests, pasture spore counts and liveweights
Why sheep poo?
Pasture spore counts show the risk in the paddock. Faecal spore counts show what stock are actually eating, right now. Used together, they give the best picture.
What we've learned so far
- FE is widespread. Spores were found from Southland to Northland, and clinical FE was reported from Marlborough and Tasman north.
- The season runs late. Risk continued into May and June.
- Grazing height matters. Pasture grazed below 5 cm had the most spores in faeces.
- Altitude matters; aspect doesn't. Farms below 200 m had the most spores. Which way a slope faced made no difference.
- Neighbours help but check your own. Low-risk farms tended to cluster together, while high-risk farms were often on their own.
- Hidden FE is common. On nested study farms, 37–47% of farms had subclinical FE each season, compared with 3–11% with clinical cases.
What farmers told us
In the end-of-season survey, 198 farmers shared their experience. The most common surprise was how late in the season spores were found. Many said the study changed how they farm, including timing zinc on spore counts rather than set dates, leaving higher residuals, avoiding "hot spot" paddocks and seeking FE-tolerant rams.
As one farmer put it: "Did not realise how late in the season there can be elevated FE spore counts."
What's next
Season three analysis is under way, and we'll share results here. The data is also powering a new FE risk prediction tool, combining study results with weather data. In the meantime, talk to your vet about what these findings mean for your farm.
Project details
| B+LNZ project lead | Cara Brosnahan, Principal Scientist – Animal Health Research |
| Partners | B+LNZ, Awanui Veterinary, Ingenum and Massey University |
| Status | Completed 2026 – final analysis under way |
| Season two | Season two | Season three | |
| Farms taking part | 203 | 278 | 283 |
| Reports sent out | 3,734 |
4,865 | 5,032 |
| Farms reporting clinical FE | 30 | 66 | 73 |
| Nested longitudinal risk factor study farms |
n/a | 31 | 36 |