Do you worm everymonth?

[Debara]

Hello, I was wondering if we should worm our Pygmy goats every month? We have not been doing so because their eyes and gums are pink. We have had our goats for a year now and when we first got them we were worming them every month because their eyes and gums were whitening up. But is it still a good idea to still worm them monthly? Thanks, Debbie

[Bearfootfarm]

Ive pretty much stopped worming my sheep after reading about FAMACHA. So far they are doing fine
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/meatgoat/FAMACHA.htm

[stacygoats]

My schedule is 3 times a years (spring @ the same time they get cd&t vacination, mid-summer, fall before breeding) with some exceptions.
- Does get a extra deworming after they kid.
- I have the vet run a fecal on any goat that isn't gaining weight, appears less than robust, pale gums/eyes, ..., so I know exactly what I'm deworming for.
- New stock.

[topside1]

Bearfoot, did you find a way to acquire a colored chart?? Oh are you just working off common sense?// Thanks for you reply.

[us4davis]

Topside, you asked about a color chart for FAMACHA. We took a class from our local cooperative extension. The livestock agent gave the class. It was held at a local goat farm so we could compare the chart to the eyes of the goats. They gave us a packet of info and in it was a wallet size card to use for comparison. I would give them a call and talk to the livestock agent. Hope this helps.

[Jcran]

Great info; my question would be: is this an effective control for ALL types of parasites? It mentions the one type of stomache worm but would it also predict infestations of other types as well? Did the workshop mention how often one would want to carry out fecals? I only have 9 goats total so I can pretty much do the whole group one Sunday a month and get it done. How does FEMANCHA do it? I am going to ask our ag extension office to set up a workshop!

[Jen H]

Worming schedules really depend on where you live and what the parasite load is there. Here in North Western WA, I worm 3 times a year unless I get someone new in or one of the goats is doing poorly. If one of the goats is looking "off" I have a fecal run just to see what I'm dealing with and evaluate whether or not I need to change my schedule. The fecal test costs me $15, so it's really not an expensive thing to do.

[AllWolf]

I worm my goats every 3 months unless they need it sooner. It just depends of where you live and how bad the parasites are.

Good Luck with your goats. :-)

[mygoat]

I don't worm unless I need to. I doubt my vet would do fecals either, so I go by eyelid color and condition, and so far have done well. But I will worm 2x a year approximately, just in case. And after does kid, too.

[Bearfootfarm]

Originally Posted by topside1

Bearfoot, did you find a way to acquire a colored chart?? Oh are you just working off common sense?// Thanks for you reply.

The only way to get a color chart is to take a course on it, or if you can talk a Vet into getting you one. Ive just been going by what Ive read, and only worming those who show pale pink or white inner eyelids.


http://www.sheep101.info/201/parasite.html

http://www.scsrpc.org/SCSRPC/Files/F...RTS%205_06.pdf

[topside1]

Thanks everyone!!

[okgoatgal2]

no. i worm when there's a need, and i'm going back to using DE as a top dressing on the feed, daily.

[EatChevre]

This past summer, I took a FAMACHA course and learned that worming should only be done when it is needed - and not to the whole herd, but on an individual basis.

Overuse of dewormers over many years has made resistance to dewormers an increasing problem. Selectively deworming only those goats that require treatment greatly decreases the development of resistance because the eggs produced by the few resistant worms that survive treatment will be greatly diluted by all the eggs produced by the animals that did not receive treatments. In contrast, where all animals are treated and moved to parasite-"safe", or "clean" pasture, only resistant worms that survive treatment will produce all the eggs that form the next generation of worms.

Both resistance (the ability to prevent or suppress infection) and resilience (the ability to withstand the effects of parasites) have been shown to be moderately heritable. This means that goats can be either culled or selected for these traits.

Once goats that are unable to cope with existing worm challenge infections are identified, they can be targeted for special attention without the whole herd having to be treated. In the long term, by culling goats that are repeatedly identified as unable to cope with moderate worm burdens, a more resistant and resilient herd, genetically suited to the environment can be bred.

I highly recommend taking a FAMACHA course if you ever come across the opportunity. I took the course through PASA: Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.

[steff bugielski]

I have been useing the herbal wormer weekly. Very pleased so far with the results.
Steff