Routine FEC testing is key to targeted parasite management
23rd June 2023
Farmers are being urged to carry out regular faecal egg count (FEC) testing before drenching lambs to get an accurate estimation of worm burden across groups, as a more targeted approach to parasite control can save producers time, money and labour.
The need for regular testing at this time of the year is further emphasized by recent variations in weather, which has caused the worm life cycle to be less predictable, said ruminant technical consultant at Elanco Animal Health, Matt Colston.
“The time between worm eggs landing on pasture and becoming infectious larvae can range from between two and 12 weeks, meaning that in ideal conditions, a new crop of infectious larvae can hatch every few weeks.
“Last year’s hot, dry summer stopped worm eggs from developing, but once the rain started, farmers faced a huge challenge as they all hatched at once,” he said.
FEC testing will not only indicate whether treatment is required for a group of animals, it will also give an early warning of a problem before it starts to affect sheep health and performance.
When weighing the benefits against the effort of taking samples, regular testing really is a no-brainer. Getting sheep in only when required will also equate to labour savings and expose the animals to less stress when handling, Mr Colston pointed out.
He went on to highlight the crucial importance of timing when administering a wormer, as farmers need to make sure as many animals as possible benefit from the treatment without some being adversely impacted.
“By regularly FEC testing, and reviewing the results, you will likely only need to treat animals when high burdens are indicated. This can save on the cost of drenches as well as time and effort, with the added benefit of slowing the rate of worm resistance developing.”
He advises testing sheep as often as possible, or at least every month. Moreover, collecting samples is an easy and straightforward process that can be incorporated into farmers’ daily checks.
“I’d recommend sampling each mob of lambs from when the youngest is one month old, so every lamb should start being tested from between four and six weeks,” he said.
“The samples must be fresh, so if it’s warm, pick it up. Some lambs will have a high burden, while others will be relatively unaffected so it’s important to get the best estimate of the average by collecting around 15 samples,” explained Mr Colston.
Farmers can obtain equipment and support to start FEC testing from their vet, consultant, or RAMA at their local agricultural merchant.
