Farmer Presentation for Parasite Control

By Michelle Holloway

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes:

Farm 1:• 430 ha sheep and beef property• Stocking 2500 Romney ewes, 150 breeding

cows, 66 rising two year olds & 72 weiners, all Angus

• Ewes are drenched before tupping with Cydectin, and

• Pre-lambing, 2ths receive a bionic capsule lasting 150 days and ewes receive 6 in 1 Nilvax

• Mixed age breeding cattle are drenched once a year if needed with Oxfen C

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes

Farm 1 cont..• Cattle are fed on a crop during winter• Farmer does not perform faecal egg counts as

doesn’t see parasitism as a problem• All replacement stock breed on farm• Quarantine holding paddock for stock brought

onto farm• Poor performing stock culled• Farmer uses cross-grazing for parasite control

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes

Farm 2:• 694ha sheep and beef property• Stocking 4100 Romney ewes, 130 breeding

cows, Angus Herford cross• Drench all ewes 2 times a year at main shear

and pre- tupping• Light ewes also drenched at dipping and 2nd

shear• Catlle drenched once a year after preg testing

in March with Closamectin (injectable)

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes

Farm 2 cont..• Cross graze sheep with cattle• Ewes are set stocked after scanning for

pasture management• Poor performing stock are culled• Perform faecal egg counting twice a year at

weaning and pre- tupping

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes

Farm 3:• 55 acres fallow deer farm • Stocking 80 hinds, 80 yearlings and 6 breeding

stags• All fawns receive a sole drench at weaning for

their lifetime• Hinds gain a high immunity to parasite so don’t

get drenched• Breeding stags drenched once a year, when

draughted from hinds in October

Examples of Farm Drenching Programmes

Farm 3 cont..• All stock receive Cydectin pour on• No cross- grazing performed, solely fallow

deer• Rotation of paddocks for pasture

management• Supplementary fed maize in a raised trough• All replacement stock breed on property

Improving Environmental Sustainability…

• Having an accurate drench programme ensure less drenching

• Good pasture management also helps to decrease the spread of parasites

• Only drenching poor performing stock (select drenching due to certain stock having less immunity to worms)

• Culling poor performing stock- not carrying over consistently ‘wormy’ stock to increase productivity

Improving Financial Sustainability…

• Beneficial parasite control = fewer vet bills• Suitable parasite control programmes means

increased productivity and weight gain so farmer is coming out better off

• Careful selection/breeding of replacement stock with higher resistance to parasites = less money spent drenching

• Lowering stocking rate which will reduce the risk of disease which means less money for treatment

Reduction in use of Drenches…

• Try to drench as little as possible• Frequent drenching may lead to drench resistance of

a certain family• Avoid using the same drench family each time, try

using combination drenches• Correct drenching techniques/ dosing and worthy

pasture management will reduce need of drenching• Perform faecal egg counts and drench (or not drench)

based on the results• May only need to drench light or poor performing

stock instead of the whole mob

Selection of the best drench for the job- things to take into account…

• Species of stock• Preferred administration i.e. pour on, oral, injectable• The best time of the year to drench• Withholding periods• Type of parasite you are wanting to treat i.e. internal

external or a number of different ones• Age and breeding status• Consult a vet, they can help with ideas, selection and

explaining which would best suit you. • Remember: each farm circumstances are different

Choosing the right time to drench…

• When there are high levels of parasites• Particularly when your faecal egg count result

comes back high• Keeping an eye on clinical signs in your stock

i.e. weight, daggy ewes, decreased production etc

• Drenching pre tupping to release stress on ewes so they readily accept the ram

• The correct season e.g. Feb when high levels of barbers pole or spring when grass is fresh but stock still eating low to ground

Using Feed Management…

• Rotational grazing allows time for larvae to die off pasture and pasture to regenerate

• Lower stocking rate means less parasites on the pasture

• Supplement feeding into troughs or raised areas reduces ingestion of larvae of pasture

• Feeding stock on a crop over winter to avoid ingestion of parasites from pasture

• Cross grazing different species together

Correct dosing of stock…

• Calibrate guns to ensure they are dosing correctly• Weigh stock correctly, as under dosing is a waste of

farmers time as won’t be working and if over dose the stock can build up more of a resistance + costing more

• May be applicable to draught mobs into similar lines of body weight if overall weight is significantly varied

• Ensuring correct technique to avoid under or over dosing or infection and damage to carcass if injectable

• Read drench label to ensure correct dosing amounts, as well as precautions or special instructions

Choice of Stock on Property…

• If stock have high parasite burdens, look at introducing new breeds with better parasite immunity

• Have a quarantine area for when stock from other properties are being introduced to your farm

• Possibly lease out some paddocks for cross-grazing to decrease parasite burden

• If worst comes to worst, you may decide to convert to farming a different species if parasite resistance is severe.

Tips for commercial farms…

• Perform faecal egg count reduction test after drenching to find out farm resistance status

• Post mortem all animals with sudden deaths to assess total worm counts

• Make hay from badly infected paddocks to allow larvae to die off pasture

• Consult your local veterinarian for parasite control programmes

Tips for Lifestyle Blocks…

• Quarantine drench animals before introducing property

• Graze different species of stock to help ‘vacuum up’ parasite off pasture (cross-grazing)

• Speak to your local veterinarian about parasite control and suggestions about which drench may be suited to you!!