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Discounted Faecal Egg Counts for members

Membership to Glamorgan Smallholders entitles you to faecal egg counts at only £5 per test.

please contact Jane on 07890022319 or glamworm@gmail.com to discuss your requirements and set up a health programme for your livestock.

Faecal egg count testing for better animal health.

FECPAK revolutionises parasite management. It is an internet connected, image based diagnostic platform scientifically validated to conduct faecal egg count (FEC) tests on animals.
With FECPAK you can save time and money, improve animal health, and use worming treatments more sustainably.

What is Faecal Egg counting?

Anthelmintic (wormers) Are one of the major control options available for the treatment of gastrointestinal worms; however, worms are developing resistance to some of these anthelmintics.

A worm count more correctly called a faecal egg count (FEC) is a simple diagnostic technique to detect eggs of certain parasitic worms which live in the animal's gut.

The FEC calculates the number of intestinal parasite eggs per gram (epg) of faeces. A strong relationship exists between them a strong relationship exists between the number of eggs per gram and the parasite status of the animal tested.

 The eggs seen are usually strongyles and gastrointestinal nematodes although tapeworms and fluke are occasionally seen and can be reported if this is the case. Coccidiosis can also be seen and reported on.

FEC information is therefore critical to making informed parasite management and treatment decisions thereby avoiding frequent drenching.

 The main reason for choosing to get a worm camp done are;

  • To determine the intestinal infestation levels of animals therefore treating at optimum times to avoid unnecessary administration of chemicals. There is a common misconception that FEC can only be used to decide whether or not to drench.

  • To ascertain the development of potential resistance to current worming chemicals.

  • In cases where resistance is suspected, an egg count reduction test is recommended. This consists of an egg count performed before worming and at a certain number of days following administration of the chemical, depending on which worm is used. It is for animals which have over a certain count during a preliminary worm egg count and can be used to show that a worming treatment has been successful in removing adult egg-producing worms from the animal. A worm is considered to be resistant if it can survive exposure to a standard recommended dose of that particular chemical group of wormers. Wormer resistance is inheritable - the worms’ ability to survive is passed onto its offspring.

It has been shown that there is has been shown that there is now a widespread population of worms resistant to certain worming chemicals. Sadly many owners continue to worm with ineffective chemicals believing that the worm burden will be controlled, while in fact it can be rising.  Add to this the fact that all the time the infested animals are shedding more and more eggs onto the pasture and spreading the resistant worms to other animals.

Good parasite management starts with good information.

It is the particular set of circumstances on each individual property that is important. With a good understanding of the parasite challenge challenge on the individual property, goat keepers can develop a unique mix of management options that best meets the unique challenge on their property.

The biggest advantage is in building up a picture of the unique roundworm status of your land (which is affected by a myriad of factors such as climate conditions stocking rate, age of stock and management practice) are using that information in conjunction with a good understanding of the parasites life cycle on your property. This will lead to informed decision making.

 Worm control is a year round issue. Consider management options and, if you need to treat, use the right drug at the right time on the animals at the right dose.

 The important issue is that you cannot make good decisions without accurate information.

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Nematodirus - the changing pattern.

Nematodirus is a roundworm that infects young stock, typically in Spring when kids are about 6 to 8 weeks old.

 Although thought of a Spring disease in young kids, in recent years the behaviour of this worm appears to be changing and is now regularly observed out of Spring.

Acute disease occurs when synchronous hatching of worm eggs in Spring coincides with the grazing of your animals. The hatching of Nematodirus eggs is highly dependent on climatic conditions and will vary from year to year, region to region and even field to field. Greater risk occurs in years where Spring temperatures remain above 10゚ C day-and-night for significant periods of time as this will allow for maximum hatching of infectious larvae.

Light infections reduce appetite and productivity resulting in classical “ill-thrift”. Heavy infection signs are profuse watery, yellow-green diarrhoea which leads to severe dehydration. Animals become dull and may look tucked up in appearance.

Nematodirus symptoms can easily be confused with Coccidiosis and both traditionally appear around the same time in young stock. A faecal egg count will show if either or both of these are an issue and then stock can be targeted with the correct drug to treat the problem.

 Remember

“if you can't monitor it, you can't manage it”

 Caroline Lewis.

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About the author

Caroline Lewis is a sheep farmer and wool producer from West Wales. She has been providing a faecal egg counting service to farmers and veterinary practices since 2007 testing sheep, goats, cattle and horses. Caroline runs a flock of 70 sheep. She has won the Jacob Sheep Society Wales Champion Small flock award and is a Champion wool producer.

MONITOR EWES
AROUND LAMBING

Factsheet

www.fecpak.com


WHY?
During late pregnancy a ewe’s immune system becomes weakened, therefore the worm burden that is usually kept subdued can flourish and an increased number of worm eggs can be released onto the pasture. This is referred to as ‘peri-parturient rise’ or spring rise. This increased contamination can threaten the lambs grazed on this pasture throughout the season.
Multiple factors can affect when the spring rise will occur, including lambing date, age of ewes, litter size, nutrition, and condition. Nutrition in the lead up to lambing can be particularly important as protein is essential for the immune system. Faecal egg counts (FECs) are the best way to monitor the spring rise on your farm.


THE RESTRICTIONS
The majority of a farm’s worm population are found inside the ewes at lambing time, this means that worming at this point risks selecting for resistance. As only resistant worms will survive, only resistant worm eggs will contaminate the pasture.


THE SOLUTION
To avoid selecting for resistance: Do not treat all your ewes, follow the refugia principles. Select if possible 10% of each group to leave untreated, these ewes should be under the least pressure i.e. older ewes and have a good body condition score. Do not use the same anthelmintic group year on year. Avoid using long-acting wormers (Moxidectin) if turning to low-risk fields and late in the spring rise (e.g. post lambing / turnout). Timing— use FECs to help determine when or if needed.


WHEN TO USE YOUR FECPAKG2 SYSTEM

  • Start testing either at housing or 3-4 weeks pre-lambing (e.g. with clostridial vaccination).

  • If FEC count is low, test again at lambing (FECs can increase even if housed). Decide if turn-out dose needed.

  • Test all groups/mobs separately; ewes with multiples/thinner/younger ewes are at more risk of an increased worm burden.

  • The ewe’s full immunity to worms should return 8 to 10 weeks post lambing. Continue to monitor your ewes up to this point and treat if necessary. Don’t forget to start FECs for your lambs around three weeks after starting to graze!

  • Avoid treating more than once during the spring rise if possible.

  • Getting the timing right is more difficult for outdoor lambing flocks.

  • Some clients have found only about 40% of ewes needed worming at all and the timing has changed significantly!

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