Our Mission
Our goal is to produce a brand that protects the investment that sheep breeders have made into facial eczema (FE) while providing greater clarity to the ram buyer in regard to facial eczema genetics.
Our Objectives
- Promote breeders of elite FE-tolerant rams
- Raise awareness amongst ram buyers of the value of buying from ‘FE Gold’ breeders
- Establish and maintain a website containing information on FE and ‘FE Gold’ breeders
- Encourage other sheep breeders to work towards accreditation
- Produce an annual article promoting ‘FE Gold’ breeders, for publication in a farming magazine
- To breed healthier sheep stocks which will enhance the clean green reputation of New Zealand
Questions to ask your Ram Breeder
- How long have you being testing for FE?
- What dose rate are you testing at?
- Can I please see your Ramguard certificate?
- The important information is
- Number of years testing
- Dose rate
- Number of rams tested
- The important information is
The COSTS of facial eczema
If there was a decrease in scanning of 20% in a 2000 ewe flock this simple maths would suggest
- 400 less lambs at $120 each equates to a $48,000 loss
To read the full article by veterinarian Richard Atkinson about FE and what is costs sheep farmers click here
Our Mission
Russell Proffit (Chair)
07 877 8977 – 027 355 2927
Kate Broadbent
09 233 3230
Alastair Reeves
07 825 4925
Paul Crick
027 450 4085
Brett Teutenberg
027 446 3684
Tracy Abbott
027 284 0374
Russell Croy (Ramguard, AgResearch)
03 321 8753 – 027 926 1373
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The FE Myths!🚨 NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🚨![]()
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Facial eczema can cause big headaches on the farm. Because the signs aren’t always obvious, it can creep up on you and end up costing a lot - both in production and in animal health. ![]()
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In the first episode of a new podcast series from Beef + Lamb New Zealand and The Country, Hamish McKay sits down with Principal Scientist Cara Brosnahan and Senior Advisor farmer engagement Kristen Kilpatrick. They break down what facial eczema is, what causes it, the risks for your stock, and why planning ahead is the best way to protect your animals. They also explain why this isn’t just a North Island issue anymore. ![]()
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🎧 Find the link to this week's episode in the comments below.
Fe Gold is super proud to be select as finalists in these awardsExciting news! 🙌 We’re thrilled to announce the finalists in the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards. View a full list below.![]()
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Join us at the B+LNZ Awards Dinner, held as part of Out the Gate, on 20 May. Grab your tickets today: www.beeflambnz.com/awards![]()
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𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐁+𝐋𝐍𝐙 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬![]()
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𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚 𝑺𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅👏 Ben Dawson (Patoka)![]()
👏 Graham Johnson (Waikato)![]()
👏 Alice Wilson (Wairoa)![]()
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𝑹𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 Lone Star Farms (Nelson)![]()
👏 Shane and Lynnette McManaway, Ongaha (Wairarapa)![]()
👏 ADB Williams Trust (Dannevirke)![]()
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𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 Phil Journeaux (Waikato)![]()
👏 Dr Stewart Ledgard (Ruakura)![]()
👏 Dr William Rolleston (South Canterbury)![]()
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𝑭𝑴𝑮 𝑹𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 Mark Harris (Hawke’s Bay)![]()
👏 Kristy McGregor (Horowhenua)![]()
👏 Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network![]()
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𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒈𝒓𝒊-𝑵𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑺𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 & 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 Dr Gale Brightwell and the AgResearch Food Integrity Team![]()
👏 Paul Kenyon (Palmerston North)![]()
👏 Garth Riddle (Northland) ![]()
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𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 GenomNZ (Dunedin)![]()
👏 Helical (Rotorua)![]()
👏 Super Air (Waikato)![]()
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𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅![]()
👏 FE Gold (Waikato)![]()
👏 Jon and Fiona Sherlock (Waikato)![]()
👏 Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust (Gisborne)![]()
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𝑷𝑮𝑮 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 ![]()
👏 Conscious Valley (Wellington)![]()
👏 Green Meadows Beef (New Plymouth)![]()
👏 Rob and Mandy Pye (Northland)![]()
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Thank you to the B+LNZ Award Category Sponsors: Bioeconomy Science Institute, Rabobank New Zealand, Alliance Group, FMG, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Datamars Livestock NZ, Gallagher Animal Management and PGG Wrightson Ltd 🙏 And special thanks to the B+LNZ Award media partners Farmers Weekly NZ and Country-Wide!![]()
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This year, the B+LNZ Awards is part of Out the Gate. Thanks to Out the Gate Principal Partner Gallagher Animal Management and Strategic Partners Farmlands Co-operative, Rabobank New Zealand and Craigs Investment Partners as well as Gold Sponsor Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
Some great date and information getting collected here. Well done to all the awesome farmers going the extra mile and collecting this.Tackling FE together! 283 farmers. One mission: Beat Facial Eczema.![]()
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Their faecal samples = better FE management for all NZ farmers. ![]()
Regional faecal spore counts like map below at 100,000+ ?![]()
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Regional pasture spore counts at 20,000+? (Awanui Veterinary FE Portal or Vet Clinic Data)![]()
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Get your Farms checked, call your Vet.![]()
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More info on B+LNZ's Knowledge Hub: beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/facial-eczema-resources