Feature articles

Summer drenching in Mediterranean climate regions: two paths to sustainability

by Brown Besier, Veterinary Parasitologist

The “summer drenching” program has long been a mainstay of sheep worm control in winter rainfall regions. However, in areas where summers are very hot and dry, it is also a major causal factor for drench resistance, with a consequent reduction in the long-term effectiveness of worm control. >> Read more.

How important are bare breeches for flystrike resistance?

from the FlyBoss web site

While bare breeches can improve resistance to flystrike, selecting for less dags and breech wrinkles is considered the priority. >> Read more.

Lice transfer via shearers

by Deb Maxwell, ParaBoss Operations Manager

Lice can survive on shearers’ moccasins and clothing. Fresh clothes, two pairs of moccasins and freezing or microwaving them to kill any attached lice should solve the problem. >> Read more.

Watery scours in goats: does this indicate a need to drench?

from the WormBoss web site

A worm drench is often warranted if goats have watery scours, but if improvement does not occur within a week after a drench, consider other causes. >> Read more.

Fast Fact: Cook your watercress

Liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, affects many species including sheep, goats, camelids, cattle, kangaroos and rabbits, but did you know it can also infect humans? While uncommon in Australia, infection has occurred from eating watercress growing in slow moving streams that provide a suitable habitat for the freshwater snail, which releases the liver fluke stage infective to humans into the water. Cooking watercress kills this metacercariae stage.

Urgently wanted: Sheep lice

Dr Peter James, University of Queensland, is conducting new research that requires lice from various locations.

What’s involved? 
Dr James will come to your property and will use a small vacuum to suck lice from a number of sheep. No sheep need to be taken away. Collection would likely occur in January 2018.

During the process Dr James, who is Australia’s most experienced lice research scientist, will be able to answer your lice management questions.

If you have obviously lousy sheep contact Dr James directly to see whether your situation meets the criteria for a collection. If your sheep don’t have lice, but your neighbour’s do, please pass on this notice.

Dr Peter James, email: p.james1@uq.edu.au, phone: 0408 148 511