Health and management abstracts
Characterizing the parasite challenge of meat goats grazing summer pastures in Western Maryland
S. Schoenian
J. Semler
M. Bennett
J. Deitz-Band
D.J. O'Brien
Internal parasites (i.e. gastro-intestinal worms) are the primary health problem affecting grazing goats, but the severity and nature of the problem varies by year, season, and various other factors. To characterize the parasite challenge of meat goats grazing summer pastures in Western Maryland, data was collected from the 57 male goats that participated in the 2008 Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test. At the beginning of the test, the goats were administered anthelmintics from two different chemical classes. Individual and pooled fecal samples were collected every two weeks. Individual fecal samples were sent to Delaware State University for fecal egg count determination using the modified McMaster procedure. Pooled fecal samples were submitted to the University of Georgia for coproculture. Body weights, FAMACHA© eye anemia scores, and body condition scores were assessed bi-weekly. Goats with FAMACHA© scores of 4 and 5 were dewormed, while goats with scores of 1 and 2 were not treated. The initial anthelmintic treatments reduced fecal egg counts by more than 95 percent. Excluding the initial treatments, the 57 goats were dewormed an average of 1 additional time. 28 goats (49%) did not require any additional anthelmintic treatment, while the remainder required 1 or more treatments. Fecal egg counts and FAMACHA© scores peaked on August 29 when almost half of the goats required anthelmintic treatment. Haemonchus contortus was the primary parasite infecting the goats, comprising 96 to 100 percent of the worm load. There was considerable difference among individual goats for parasite resistance and resilience.
This abstract was presented as a poster at the Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference of the National Association of Country Agricultural Agents in Portland, Oregon in September 2009.
Using the FAMACHA© system to control internal parasites in goats grazing summer pastures
S. Schoenian
M. Bennett
J. Deitz-Band
D.J. Jackson
J. Semler
Gastro-intestinal parasites, especially the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), limit the profitability and expansion of the meat goat industry in many states. Past parasite control programs which relied primarily upon anthelmintic treatments are no longer effective and/or sustainable, due to the widespread emergence of drug-resistant worms. FAMACHA© is a novel system for assessing barber pole worm infection in small ruminants and determining the need for deworming individual animals. In 2006 and 2007, the FAMACHA© system was used to control internal parasites in male goats participating in the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test. From early June until early October, the goats were rotationally grazed on 10 to 12 acres of pasture, composed primarily of cool season grasses. The goats were dewormed upon arrival to the test site, and fecal samples were collected at d-0, d-28, and d-56. While on test, they were handled were handled every 14 days to determine their FAMACHA© and body condition scores. Goats with FAMACHA© scores of 4 or 5 were dewormed, while those with scores of 1 or 2 were not treated. Some with scores of 3 were treated, depending upon other factors. Body weights were determined every 14 to 28 d. In 2006, 51 anthelmintic treatments were administered to the 31 goats for an average of 1.65 treatments per animal (excluding the initial deworming). Four goats did not require deworming during the testing period. Thirteen were treated once. Seven were dewormed twice. Only seven goats required 3 or more anthelmintic treatments. The need for anthelmintic treatment peaked on August 11 when two thirds of the goats required deworming. ADG was 86 + 20 g per day. Only 4 anthelmintic treatments were administered to the 47 goats participating in the 2007 meat goat test (excluding the initial treatment). The lack of need for deworming was attributed to drought conditions. ADG was 115 + 16 g per day. The FAMACHA© system proved to be an effective tool for monitoring and controlling internal parasitism in meat goats grazing summer pastures.
This abstract was presented at the Annual meeting of the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science in Dallas, Texas in February 2008.
Using the FAMACHA© system to control internal parasites in grazing lambs
S. Schoenian
J. Semler
Gastro-intestinal parasites are the single greatest threat to the health and productivity of sheep and goats throughout most of the United States. FAMACHA© is a novel system that uses an eye anemia chart to assess Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm) infection and the need for deworming individual sheep and goats. To demonstrate its use, 84 crossbred and purebred Katahdin lambs from a sire comparison study were rotationally grazed on 13 acres of pasture from June 10, 2005 until September 30, 2005. The lambs were handled every two weeks to determine FAMACHA© eye scores and body condition scores. They were weighed every four weeks to determine average daily gain (ADG). Lambs scoring 3, 4, or 5 on the FAMACHA© scale were dewormed with either levamisole or moxidectin. Lambs scoring 1 or 2 were not treated with an anthelmintic. During the 112-day grazing period, the 84 lambs required 111 anthelmintic treatments for an average of 1.25 treatments per lamb. The number of lambs treated every two weeks ranged from none on August 5 to 56 on July 11. Twenty-two two lambs required no treatment during the grazing period. 34 lambs required only one treatment. Fourteen required two treatments. Only 12 required 3 or more treatments. FAMACHA© scores ranged from 1.6 to 3.10. Eye scores and frequency of deworming was affected by sire breed (P<0.001). Average daily gain was 0.3 lbs. per day for the duration of the grazing period. The FAMACHA© system proved to be an effective tool for managing internal parasitism in grazing lambs and resulted in significantly fewer treatments than had the lambs been treated on a monthly basis, as is common in the industry.
This abstract was presented as a poster at the Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in Cincinatti, Ohio in July 2006.