Smart strategies for sheep worming

[sbanks]

Take advantage of metabolic changes occurring at lambing time to maximize the efficacy of your worming program. As part of a recent lambing short course, Dr. Larry Goelz, of Pipestone Veterinary Clinic, presented a series of useful tips. Read his suggested guidelines for worming sheep.

First, Dr. Goelz suggests you understand the problem behind the problem. “Be aware of the two parasite populations,” he warns. “There’s the one currently living in your sheep and the immature stage waiting in the pasture to re-infect your herd. Since the average parasite lifecycle is 21 days, if you de-worm sheep and turn them back onto the same pasture they will be re-infected.”

Here are Dr. Goelz’s other de-worming tips:

* Remove feed for 24 hours before you de-worm to increase effectiveness.
* Never under-dose! This encourages parasite resistance. Resistance is directly proportional to worming frequency.
* Keep wormed sheep in a dry lot for two days after treatment. De-wormers kill adult parasites but not their eggs. Eggs dropped in a dry lot won’t mature.
* To limit re-infection, rotate pastures often. Reduced larvae population in a pasture is directly related to how long it has not been grazed.
* Dectomax® injectable is the most persistent de-wormer available and fits well when sheep must go back to an infected pasture. Since using Dectomax in sheep is considered off-label, you’ll want to discuss its use with your veterinarian.
* Iron is unnecessary in treating sheep recovering from heavy parasite load. De-worm and provide good nutrition in a dry lot.


More to know about worming sheep:

* Internal parasites move freely between sheep and goats.
* Internal parasites do not move between sheep and cattle or sheep and horses.
* Success or resistance should be measured by a fecal egg-count 4-10 days post-de-worming.
* Hibernating parasites become more active, mate, and produce eggs near lambing. De-worming ewes in the lambing pens is an effective method of preventing infection in lambs.
* Bottle jaw is a symptom of low blood protein; the number one cause of low blood protein is a heavy parasite load. However, bottle jaw is a variable condition and should not be used as a measure of success (or lack of) a de-wormer.

[sbanks]

* Bottle jaw is a symptom of low blood protein; the number one cause of low blood protein is a heavy parasite load. However, bottle jaw is a variable condition and should not be used as a measure of success (or lack of) a de-wormer.

So How does one go about increasing the protein level in a sheep?

[Bearfootfarm]

So How does one go about increasing the protein level in a sheep?

Here's one way:

http://www.kaydeefeed.com/livestock_...ein_block.html

http://www.kentfeeds.com/products/sh...pp/sg-Supp.php

[sbanks]

HOw much does this stuff cost? Would like the tubs to reduce the chance of them breaking their teeth.

[Bearfootfarm]

HOw much does this stuff cost? Would like the tubs to reduce the chance of them breaking their teeth.

I don't know.
I've never used it

There are also loose protein supplements that can be added to grain.

If they are getting a good diet, it's usually not required

[Ross]

We use the tubs near lambing primarily to boost the amount of mineral they'll take in. Works exceptionally well for that, and I don't think any lost or broke teeth. They just lick at it, though some pigs do try to scrape some extra. To increase blood protein you have to feed for healthy sheep and worm appropriately. If you see bottle jaw you are way behind and it'll be a long road back.

[Fowler]

That's odd the article says "Never under dose"....but no warning of overdosing".
Due to I dont have scales big enough to weigh my sheep, I underdose and I only worm when needed. I have only wormed one, this year. I also use Cydectin, and give free choice minerial, I buy the mineral blocks for Sheep and Goats.

[ONG2]

Thanks for the info sbanks

[sbanks]

you're welcome. Anything I can to help others.

I have been asking for a lot of help lately and will be asking for more as time passes.