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S. Schoenian1, J. Deitz-Band2 J. Semler1, W. Lantz1, M.B. Bennett3, and N. Whitley4
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension1, Many Rocks Farm2,West Virginia University Cooperative Extension3, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore4
Gastro-intestinal worms
• Gastro-intestinal parasites (worms) pose the single greatest threat to the health and productivity of sheep and goats throughout most of the United States.
The barber pole worm
• The barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is the worm species of primary concern in warm, moist climates, such as Maryland.
• It is a blood-sucking parasite that causes anemia and edema, production loss and sometimes death.
Traditional control of parasites
• In the past, parasite control programs relied heavily upon the prophylactic use of anthelmintics.
• This approach is no longer sustainable due to the widespread emergence of drug-resistant worms.
• Selective deworming increases worm refugia which slows the rate by which worms develop resistance to anthelmintics.
Materials and Methods
• 200584 Katahdin and Katahdin crossbred lambs from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s sire comparison study were rotationally grazed from June 10 until Sept. 30 on 12.5 acres of cool season grass pastures. Stocking rate was ~7 lambs/acre.
• 200631 Kiko, Boer, and Kiko x Boer goats from the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test were rotationally grazed from June 10 until Oct. 6 on 10 acres of cool season grass pastures. Stocking rate ranged from 3 to 5 goats per acre.
Materials and methods
• Lambs were not dewormed upon arrival.
• Goats were dewormed upon arrival to establish a baseline for fecal egg collection.
• Fecal samples were collected at 0, 28, and 56 days from goats and monthly from the lambs.