Would you expect to find segments and eggs of the hydatid tapeworm in the dung of sheep?
Barber's pole worm is still creating problems where there has been more summer rainfall than usual.
The quick quiz
This quick quiz tests your knowledge of sheep and goat parasites and their control.
1. Would you expect to find segments and eggs of the hydatid tapeworm in the dung of sheep?
2. Do blowflies like warm humid weather or mild dry weather?
3. If you are aiming to keep your property lice-free, do you assume that sheep you have just purchased are free of lice because the vendor said they had just treated them?
4. Is BarberVax, the barber’s pole vaccine, registered for use in goats?
State Outlooks for February 2018
The change of season brings worm control into focus in the temperate regions while warmer regions that have had rain are still struggling with worm infestations.
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Worm activity has been quiet due to the dry conditions, but even so, worms continue to cause problems on some farms. Scour worms of all varieties and barber’s pole are still active as has been Mycoplasma ovis, a blood parasite that also produces anaemia.
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Report unavailable at time of newsletter publication.
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Time to WormTest now that it’s raining again. There has also been talk of drench resistance and the value of purchasing rams selected for increased resistance to worms.
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Autumn is a make-or-break time for worm control. Whether or not significant worm problems occur in the coming winter and spring will be dependent on the effectiveness of worm control strategies employed over the next few weeks. Significant rain in the south west in the last few days/weeks has producers monitoring for worms.
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Sheep grazing dry perennial pastures are very safe for now as worm numbers are low with the dry weather, but finishing lambs grazing irrigated legumes and perennial pastures are at high risk as worm contamination builds under the increased moisture levels.
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The hot dry weather in January/February would have killed worm larvae on pastures in some areas. Despite these adverse weather conditions, some parts of the state are reporting sporadic outbreaks of barber’s pole worm.
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State Outlooks
