[Jacob-list] Worming question

Sun Jul 17 22:08:43 EDT 2005

Hi everyone-
My husband Dave writes for Lancaster Farming Newspaper and recently attended a workshop on famacha.... Just in case any one is interested but doesn't get the newspaper, he gave me permission to  copy/paste it on this message.  Really wanted to go myself, but a certain little whippersnapper kept me home!  Dave came back pretty impressed though....
Read below for the article. Katrina
ps the first few lines are just headers for pictures that were printed as well.

_______________

Managing Sheep, Goat Parasites Takes Knowledge, Common Sense

1/

Susan Schoenian, right, talks to workship participants about ways to manage parasites in sheep and goats. 

Photos by Dave Lefever

2/

Using the FAMACHA method to gauge barber pole worm infestations by matching the color of this sheep's inner eyelid with a color on the card are, from left, Damon Babcock, Bill Webb, and Kate Bennett.

3/

This goat's red inner eyelid rates pretty well on the FAMACHA system.  

DAVE LEFEVER

Lancaster Farming Staff

WESTMINSTER, Md. -  Good tools are available to help sheep and goat producers control internal parasites in their animals.

No single one of those tools is a catch-all, but taken together with a good dose of common sense, small ruminant owners should be able to manage parasites, according to Susan Schoenian, sheep and goat extension expert from the University of Maryland.

Parasite control is becoming more crucial because these worms that live inside the animals are tending to become more resistant to approved anthelmintics (worming drugs). 

"We need to use different tools and we need to use our brains," Schoenian told a group of sheep and goat owners at an IPM (integrated parasite management) workshop June 13 near Westminster, Md. 

 The workshop was the second of two sessions conducted on a grazing farm managed by Damon Babcock. Babcock and his wife JoAnn raise Boer goat crossbreds, as well as some sheep and Highland cattle.

A big part of the workshop focused on using the "FAMACHA" anemia guide, which indicates the severity of Haemonchus contortus infestations in goats and sheep by comparing the color of the animals' eye membranes against a color rating card. 

Haemonchus contortus, commonly known as the barber pole worm, is what Schoenian called "Public Enemy #1" when it comes to worrisome parasites in sheep and goats. The barber pole worm is a blood sucking parasite that pierces the mucosa of the abomasum (ruminant stomach), causing blood plasma and protein loss. The resulting anemic condition can lead to unthrifty animals and even sudden death. (The barber pole worm does not cause diarrhea, as some other kinds of parasites can.)

Barber pole worms are hard to control because they have a short, direct life cycle, are prolific egg producers, can go into an arrested state to survive during the winter, and can survive on pasture for a long time.

Since sheep and goats pick up parasites from grazing and from contaminated feed and water, primary ways of preventing infestation are making sure pastures are not overstocked, keeping feeding areas clean, and providing water that is not contaminated by feces.
The FAMACHA guide was developed in South Africa in recent years as a response to increasing anthelmintic resistance. Schoenian emphasized that the Famacha method should be used only where barber pole worms are the primary parasite, as they are here in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The FAMACHA guide is a simple, laminated card with color pictures that correspond to five clinical categories of barber pole worm infestation. The colors range from red to white, and are made to compare with the color of the membrane in the inner lower eyelid. The reddest color (1) shows the lowest level of infestation, while the whitest color (5) indicates a severe case. A rating of 1 or 2 is taken to mean that no treatment is necessary for barber pole worms, while 4 or 5 indicate a definite need for treatment. A rating of 3 (pink color) is a borderline case and would require a judgement call based on other factors, such as the body condition of the animal or its age and susceptibility.

The Famacha guide is a useful way to determine which animals should be treated for parasites. By avoiding treatment of those that don't need it, producers can save money on wormers and, maybe even more importantly in the long run, help reduce the rate of parasite resistance to the drugs.

While other methods, such as using a microscope to count parasite eggs in the feces, can be used to help determine worm loads, FAMACHA is a relatively simple method.

"FAMACHA is easy for all of us to do," Schoenian said.

Large-scale producers might find it difficult to check the whole flock or herd frequently, but small sheep and goat farmers could benefit from using the FAMACHA card as often as every two weeks, according to Schoenian. 

Internal parasites are practically a given in sheep and goat production -- the goal is to keep them at a manageable level, Schoenian pointed out.

"I'm not looking for zero egg count," she said. "I'm looking for zero problems.

"Parasite control requires and integrated approach."

Some management methods that can help keep parasite levels low include raising worm-resistant breeds, rotating and resting pastures, providing browsing (shrubs and trees) for animals, mixed species grazing, and alternative forages.

For more information about FAMACHA or small ruminant parasite management, contact Schoenian at (301) 432-2767 ext. 343 or sschoen at umd.edu.

___________________________

Katrina, Dave, and Eli Oberholtzer Lefever
Pigeon Hills Place
7890 Gnatstown Rd
Hanover, PA 17331
(717) 637-6670
davekat at copper.net
http://chicoryjacobs.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Linda 
  To: Joy Thomas, SonRise Farm ; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 8:45 PM
  Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] Worming question

  When the vet was here last month to do health certificates for some sheep going out of state, she was telling me that the vet school is now saying that you should only worm when indicated and only worm those sheep that need it, and check the eyelids to determine who might be anemic.  Years ago, a friend and fellow Jacob breeder at that time, told me that checking the eyelid was way more effective than checking gums, so I've done that.  We also worm as needed - not on a schedule.  I wasn't familiar with famacha, but did some reading and it sounds like the sort of common sense worming procedure that we've advocated for a number of years and much more in keeping with the needs of a flock than wholesale across the board worming.

  If I ever get a chance to take an official class, I'll sure jump on it.

  Linda
  What's New at Patchwork Farm?

  On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 13:54:07 -0700 (PDT), Joy Thomas, SonRise Farm wrote:
  > I would strongly suggest checking with a large animal vet, familiar
  > with ruminants, in your area.
  >
  > As Kate mentioned, worming protocol depends on your location as
  > well as breed of sheep and your facility (acreage, # of sheep/acre,
  > etc.)
  >
  > I had a very bad year due to haemonchus contortus (barber pole)
  > worms 2 years ago. Lost 6 lambs and 1 adult. Learned a LOT from my
  > vet and local necrospy lab.
  >
  > I, too, use FAMACHA (and was VERY glad to be able to take the
  > official class in June of this year), check my flock's condition
  > score regularly, keep them "tame" by feeding grain year round
  > (sometimes just a handful, but VERY helpful for keeping them
  > cooperative for eyelid checks), and only worm when I NEED to worm.
  > I also only worm the animals that NEED worming (pale eyelids,
  > lambs, pregant and just birthed ewes).
  >
  > Check with your vet to find out what wormer(s) are most effective
  > in your area. I was also taught not to rotate wormers each time.  I
  > now use one until I see increased fecal egg counts, then switch to
  > a different wormer. This will mean I "rotate" wormers, but will
  > most likely use one for several year, then another for several
  > years, etc.
  >
  > For my particular acreage/location/flock size, my vet recommended I
  > stay with commercially-prepared wormers and not use herbal wormers.
  >  This, too, depends on your location, acreage, set-up.
  >
  > Hope this helps!
  > Joy
  >
  > Joyce M. Thomas
  > Son Rise Farm & Rabbitry, Creedmoor NC
  > Hand spun yarns, custom knit & triloom woven items
  > www.shepherdofspots.com
  >
  >
  > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!?
  > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
  > http://mail.yahoo.com
  > _______________________________________________
  > Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm &
  > Fiberworks Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
  > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  _______________________________________________
  Jacob-list mailing list, sponsored by Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks
  Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
  http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/jacob-list/attachments/20050717/a16ad92b/attachment.html