How to minimise production loss
The importance of worm management
Managing worms in sheep is a critical aspect of ensuring flock health and productivity. Worm infestations, particularly those caused by gastrointestinal nematodes, can lead to significant economic losses due to reduced growth rates, lower wool production, and even death in severe cases.
Understanding and implementing a strategic worm control program is essential for every sheep producer. In this blog, we'll delve into effective worm control practices and how engaging Moses & Son's consultancy services can help you optimise your flock's health.
Understanding the Importance of Worm Control
Worms can have a profound impact on the overall health and productivity of your sheep. The presence of internal parasites can cause anemia, diarrhea, and reduced appetite, which in turn affect growth rates, wool quality, and reproductive performance. Without a robust worm control strategy, these issues can escalate, leading to significant economic losses.
Worm infections pose the highest financial burden on sheep and goat farming in Australia, amounting to an estimated annual cost of $436 million. The primary expense attributed to worm infections stems from lost production. Meanwhile, lice infestations cause significant economic losses to the sheep industry, with treatment expenses and decreased productivity amounting to $81 million annually.
Each year, treatment and lost production associated with flystrike cost the industry $173 million.
Key Components of an Effective Worm Control Program
Regular Monitoring and Testing
A strong worm control program is vital to maintaining the health and productivity of your flock. Below are two key components that can help ensure your worm management strategy is both effective and sustainable.
Regular Monitoring and Testing
Fecal Egg Counts (FECs): Regular FECs are crucial for monitoring the worm burden in your flock. By consistently tracking FECs over time, you can evaluate the success of your worm control efforts and make informed decisions about when it’s necessary to drench. This not only helps to maintain flock health but also prevents overuse of drenches.
Drench Resistance Testing: Drench resistance is a growing concern for farmers, making it essential to test regularly for resistance. By identifying which drenches remain effective and which don’t, you can select the most appropriate products and avoid unnecessary treatments that could worsen resistance issues. Regular testing allows for smarter, more targeted worm control, ensuring the longevity of drench efficacy on your farm.
Strategic Drenching
Strategic drenching plays a crucial role in parasite control, helping to effectively manage worm burdens within a flock while reducing the risk of drench resistance and ensuring the long-term health of your animals.
Timing and Frequency: Effective drenching should be guided by FEC results rather than following a fixed schedule. Strategic drenching, based on real data, helps reduce the overall worm burden in your flock while minimizing the risk of developing drench resistance. This approach ensures that you’re treating your flock only when necessary, improving the efficiency of your worm control program.
Product Rotation: Rotating drench products with different active ingredients is a key strategy for managing resistance. However, this rotation should be informed by drench resistance testing to ensure the products being used are still effective. By combining rotation with regular testing, you can maintain long-term effectiveness in your worm control program.
Pasture Management
Grazing Management: Worm larvae can survive on pasture for extended periods. Implementing a rotational grazing system, where sheep are moved to clean pastures, can break the worm lifecycle and reduce the parasite load.
Mixed Grazing: Grazing sheep alongside cattle or other species can also help in reducing the worm burden, as different species are affected by different parasites.
Breeding for Resistance
Breeding for worm resistance is a proactive way to enhance long-term parasite control within your flock.
Genetic Selection: Some sheep breeds, and even individuals within those breeds, have a natural resistance to worms. Incorporating these traits into your breeding program can significantly improve your flock's resilience against worm infestations over time, reducing reliance on chemical interventions.
Use of Worm Control Products
Using the right worm control products can effectively manage parasite levels while minimising the risk of resistance. These come in two forms:
Combination Drenches: Combination drenches, which contain multiple active ingredients, are often more effective at controlling worms and can help delay the development of resistance. This approach ensures a broader spectrum of control within your flock.
Targeted Treatments: Rather than drenching your entire flock, focus on high-risk animals, such as lambs and ewes, in late pregnancy. Targeted treatments help reduce the overall worm burden while conserving drench use, lowering the chance of resistance development.
Engage Moses & Son for Expert Consultancy Services
At Moses & Son, we know how challenging it can be to manage worm infestations in sheep. Our consultancy services offer tailored, practical solutions designed to fit your specific farming conditions. Whether it's conducting FECs, performing drench resistance tests, or advising on pasture management and genetic selection, we provide expert guidance to support optimal flock health.
By partnering with our team, you can ensure your worm control program is both effective and sustainable, leading to healthier sheep and improved farm profitability.
Don't wait for a major worm infestation—contact Moses & Son today and take proactive steps towards a healthier, more productive flock.
