ParaBoss News - February 2020 - State Outlooks

The Quick Quiz

This quick quiz tests your knowledge of sheep and goat parasites and their control. 

1. Under what conditions would you consider using a long-acting drench for worm control?

2. What management strategies are considered appropriate for purchased sheep in the period after the quarantine drench?

3. What causes fleece rot, and why is it important?

4. When purchasing sheep, what factors about the place of origin or the sheep themselves, would increase the risk of lousy sheep?

>> Check the answers.

State Outlooks for February 2020

While one rain event does not break a drought, it has provided conditions suitable for barber’s pole infections, and flystrike outbreaks. Producers in all regions that have received rain are advised to monitor their stock.

Warning: wet weather problems

Continued frequent rain events and an already full soil moisture profile in many places will bring a host of extra problems for livestock such as worm infections and flystrike. Increase the frequency of Worm Egg Count monitoring to 4-weekly during these risk periods. Barber’s pole worm is already creating problems in the southern half of Australia, where it normally is not a major problem. Will the rise of worms post-drought be different from other years? Read Deb Maxwell's article in the NSW report. Monitor for flies frequently, particularly for body strike 2–3 days after a rain event.

When doing worm egg counts, we recommend the use of WEC providers who have demonstrated accurate worm egg counting in the ParaBoss WEC QA Program. Only the providers whose results were within the acceptable statistical limits have been endorsed and included on the list; unfortunately, a number of participants were unsuccessful. Is your provider on the list?

ParaBoss Technical Workshop, Adelaide 10 March

Just a few participant places are still available, please contact us immediately if you would like to attend.