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Breed for worm-resistant goats Genetic selection can be used to increase the resistance of goats to worms. To increase the genetic resistance of your herd to worms, use bucks with better than […]
Why manage drench resistance? Never assume that a drench treatment will completely kill worms in your goats. Drench resistance is a result of worms having genes that enable them to […]
What signs to assess and when Where worm egg count is not used, there are three indicators that animals can be affected by worms; these reflect different worm types: Sign […]
Grazing management Managing and spelling pastures at the right times and for the necessary length of time is a proven method to reduce the level of contamination on paddocks. However, […]
Where does this program apply? The Smallholder worm control program is applicable across Australia for smallholders who do not have the infrastructure to be able to practice grazing management to […]
The WormBoss worm control programs have been developed from local research results and experience proven to be relevant and successful for most farms in the region. The regional key and […]
The FAMACHA system The FAMACHA® system is a methodology to slow the development of drench resistance in barber’s pole worms of sheep and goats. It is based on minimising the […]
WormBoss has developed a worm control program for each WormBoss region of Australia that will assist you to manage worms profitably and sustainably, for sheep and for goats. Each program […]
Not all goats that are losing weight, weak and lethargic are suffering from worms, or they may be suffering from worms as well as another disease condition. Goats may become […]
There are very few anthelmintic products registered for dairy goats or milking sheep where milk may be used for human consumption. Many anthelmintic products have label instructions that state “DO […]
The notes below are a general overview of the drench-resistance of worms to the drench groups listed at November 2012. They are based on reports from parasitologists, worm testing laboratories, […]
What is refugia? Refugia is simply the Latin term for ‘in refuge’. When managing drench (anthelmintic) resistance, the aim is to avoid all of the population of worms being exposed […]
Keeping drench-resistant worms out of your property is part of sustainable goat worm control. Assume that purchased goats (and sheep), including those returning from agistment, are carrying worms with some […]
Why manage drench resistance? Never assume that a drench treatment will completely kill worms in your livestock. Drench resistance is a result of worms having genes that enable them to […]
“Targeted Treatment” involves drenching only a portion of specific mobs at particular times, to slow down the development of drench resistance across a property by having more of the worm […]
The first summer drench is a strategic drench given to sheep and goats in the winter rainfall areas of Australia. It plays a major role in the preparation of low […]
On this page (click to shortcut to each section): What are strategic and tactical drenches? Strategic drench: a drench given at a critical time to reduce worm larval contamination of […]
The WormBoss Drench Decision Guides will provide you with recommendations on when to drench as well as what length protection drench may be required. The specific drench group and/or active […]
Many hobby goat breeders or commercial goat producers wanting to target organic markets are interested in alternatives to registered commercial anthelmintic (drench) products. ‘Registered’ refers to products that have been […]
Equine worming products and cattle pour-on products may be convenient, but these products should NOT be used in goats. Equine products These products are attractive to hobby goat owners, because […]
The legal use of products not registered for goats requires an off-label recommendation from your veterinarian. A veterinarian should be consulted to recommend the most effective product and dose for […]
Some drenches contain more than one anthelmintic ‘active ingredient’ (also simply called an ‘active’), that is, the chemical that is responsible for killing worms. These are often referred to as […]
Rotation between different drench groups generally does little to slow development of drench resistance and should not be used at the expense of these three highly effective practices: However, there […]
WormBoss recommends using effective drenches and where possible, these should be combinations. So what is a combination drench? This type of drench contains two or more active ingredients that each […]
Drench groups and actives for goats When using anthelmintic products in goats, a veterinary prescription is often required because: –Goats require a different dose rate and withholding period than specified on […]
Barbervax®, used under the prescription and supervision of a veterinarian, has the potential to improve the control of barber’s pole worm in goats in Australia. In Australia, many goat owners […]
The Barbervax® vaccine is a potentially useful product for the control of barber’s pole worm in goats, not just sheep. Unfortunately, the registration trials of the Barbervax® vaccine in Australia […]
Problem: Drench resistance has reduced drench options on your property and/or barber’s pole worm is a significant problem year-round and you are in need of a new approach to barber’s […]
Watch the video extract from the ParaBoss Conference 2018 on the ‘Development of immunity to worms’, presented by Dr John Webb Ware and Dr Caroline Jacobson. Immunity is the means by which […]
When breeding for worm resistance, animals are selected for lower WEC ASBV or EBV. Dag ASBV does not affect worm resistance, rather, reducing dag through selection of lower DAG ASBV decreases the […]
Problem: Are you finding yourself having to drench too frequently? Are some of your goats becoming affected by worms more easily than others? Or do you simply need to broaden […]
Nutrition and the body condition of goats have a major impact on the resistance and resilience of goats to worms: Goats that are resilient to worms can, despite carrying a […]
Problem: Serious worm problems arise because: there are few drenches registered for dairy goats, rotational grazing with other livestock is not practical for many backyard goat keepers, high stocking levels […]
Problem: Your goats are affected by worms most or all year-round and control is difficult to achieve. Solution: Consider using plants that have anthelmintic properties (they reduce worm burdens) and […]
Problem: Many producers are unaware how long is required to prepare low worm-risk paddocks, although surveys show most are in favour of using them. Solution: Understanding the few conditions under […]
The following table applies to: Factor Time or conditions Effect Minimum time before worm eggs can become infective larvae. 4–10 days Short graze periods (less than 4 days) prevent ‘auto-infection’ […]
Effective grazing management reduces the exposure of goats to worms. There are four basics: Alternating grazing of goats with cattle or horses Alternating grazing between cattle and goats is an […]
The consistency of faeces can bias the results of a worm egg count. The wetter the faeces, the lower will be the worm egg count relative to drier faeces, because […]
If you are concerned that your goats may need drenching now, but are unsure, please go to the Drench Decision Guide for your region. A WormTest or worm egg count is generally […]
Commercial goat farmers, especially in the higher rainfall areas of Australia, increasingly want goats that better resist parasites. As a result, the number of stud goat breeders offering bucks with […]
Worm egg counting is one of the most useful worm management tools a sheep or goat producer can use. You will also see this test referred to as a WormTest […]
Why do samples need to be collected directly from the sheep or goat? Individual samples are collected directly from the rectum of each sheep or goat for a DrenchTest or […]
A DrenchTest provides sheep and goat producers with the information about which drenches are no longer working effectively due to the worms on their farms having developed resistance. This information […]
What is a DrenchCheck? A DrenchCheck provides a simple, fast and low cost indication of possible drench resistance. It is the use of two WormTests—one used before and one after […]
What is a WormTest? A WormTest refers to a ‘Worm Egg Count Test’ or ‘WEC test’; it will identify the number of worm eggs in faeces, which is a good […]
Anthelmintics are products that kill gastro-intestinal worms. Here we will describe them as drenches, regardless of whether given orally or by injection. The range of products registered with the Australian […]
This covers the important worms and aspects about them you should know most about. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it […]
This strategy helps to preserve the effectiveness of your drenches for more years. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it in […]
This strategy describes when to use strategic drenches and how to decide when tactical/therapeutic drenches are needed. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply […]
Aside from drenches at one or two strategic times, the mob’s average worm egg count should be the basis for drenching decisions. Structured reading For those who like to see […]
This strategy helps your flock to withstand the worms that are present. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it in order. […]
Low worm-risk paddocks created by grazing management reduce the pressure from worms at key times, generally resulting in the need for fewer drenches. Structured reading For those who like to […]
The introduction gives a summary of the Annual Worm Control Program and describes the worm control regions and worms encountered here, with consideration of the unique challenges faced by Smallholders. […]
This covers the important worms and aspects about them you should know most about. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it […]
This strategy helps to preserve the effectiveness of your drenches for more years. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it in […]
This strategy describes when to use strategic drenches and how to decide when tactical/therapeutic drenches are needed. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply […]
Aside from drenches at one or two strategic times the mob’s average worm egg count should be the basis for other drenching decisions. Structured reading For those who like to […]
This strategy helps your flock to withstand the worms that are present. Structured reading For those who like to see all the information and simply read through it in order. […]
Low worm-risk paddocks created by grazing management reduce the pressure from worms at key times, generally resulting in the need for fewer drenches. Structured reading For those who like to […]
The introduction gives a summary of the annual control program and describes the worm control regions and worms encountered here. Structured reading For those who like to see all the […]
WormBoss Online Learning is FREE What topics are covered? Learn about the important topics that comprise an effective integrated worm control program. What is the process? Information has been provided […]
Program summary The WormBoss worm control program has five components that are most effective when used in combination. A summary of the components is below (see the links to the […]
Program summary This WormBoss worm control program has been developed for smallholders who do not have the infrastructure to be able to practice grazing management to create low worm-risk paddocks […]
Eperythrozoonosis (ep-pur-rith-ro-zo-on-osis) is the disease produced by the bacterium Mycoplasma ovis, formerly known as Eperythrozoon ovis. M. ovis inhabits and destroys red blood cells of sheep and goats leading to anaemia, jaundice, and in heavy […]
The itch mite lives on the skin of sheep and goats, causing intense irritation. Sheep or goats rub and scratch, sometimes causing severe fleece and fibre damage. Itch mite is […]
Sheep and goats are the intermediate hosts for a range of different types of Sarcocystis, a protozoan organism with cats as the final host. Other parasites exist which have a […]
Sheep, goats and all vertebrates (including humans) are intermediate hosts of Toxoplasma; cats are the final host. It is mostly found in cooler climates. Sheep and goats are infected by […]
The sheep nasal botfly, Oestrus ovis, is a widespread parasite of sheep and may also infect goats, but it is more of a nuisance than a cause of serious disease. […]
Coccidia (Eimeria species), Cryptosporidium and Giardia Coccidia Coccidia are a type of microscopic parasites known as protozoa. The main coccidia that trouble sheep and goats are the Eimeria species, causing […]
Sheep and goats also suffer from parasites other than worms. Fortunately, none of these commonly causes disease, however, they may do so when sheep or goats are held at high […]
This parasite has two names, because the cyst stage was named before it was known to be a stage of the life cycle of Taenia hydatigena. The life cycle has […]
Sheep measles (Cysticercus ovis) cause condemnation of carcases or parts of carcases at abattoirs, but they rarely cause ill-effects in the sheep or goats. Small white cysts appear in certain […]
The hydatid tapeworm (Echinococcus granulosus) is a very important parasite as humans can become infected, with serious illness possible. However, humans do not become infected from contact with sheep or […]
While sheep tapeworms are large and the segments passed in the dung are very obvious, there is no consistent evidence that they cause production loss or ill-health. Therefore, treatment for […]
Tapeworms of sheep and goats in Australia can be divided into 2 broad groups: Adult tapeworms that live in the small intestine: Moniezia expansa, the most common tapeworm of sheep […]
Ascaris (large roundworm) is not a normal parasite of sheep and goats. It normally infects pigs but may opportunistically infect sheep or goats in mixed grazing enterprises. Gongylonema (gullet worm) […]
There are three species of lungworm that occur in sheep or goats in Australia. They are the large lungworm, Dictyocaulus filaria, and the small lungworms, Muellerius capillaris and Protostrongylus rufescens. […]
Stomach hair worm (T. axei) occurs commonly in sheep, goats and other ruminants, often in association with the brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia) but appears to be relatively harmless. This worm […]
Large-mouthed bowel worm is a large (20 mm) stout white worm. It is found in cool climate areas of southern Australia. The adult female lays around 5000 eggs per day. […]
These are white worms 30–60 mm long found in the blind gut (caecum) of the sheep and goats. The anterior part of their body is long and slender, while the […]
Two species of Oesophagostomum occur in Australia: Image: Section of intestine showing nodule worms (Source: Maxine Lyndal-Murphy, Qld Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries) Modern broad-spectrum drenches tend to keep these worms at […]
This parasite is rarely a problem, although it is often seen in sheep and goats pastured in south western and tropical coastal Queensland. Threadworm infects the small intestine of sheep, […]
This parasite is rarely a problem. The hookworm of sheep or goats infects the small intestine. The pre-patent period (the time from infection to appearance of eggs in the dung) […]
Small intestinal worm is mostly found in the cooler parts of Australia. It is 10–15mm long and is found coiled close along the wall of the small intestine. It is […]
Thin-necked intestinal worm occurs in most of the major sheep and goat production areas of Australia, but is mostly an issue in the winter rainfall districts. It is very resilient […]
These worms used to be called ‘Osties’ or ‘Osters’, short for Ostertagia. However, the worm was reclassified in the early 1990s, with the genus name changing from Ostertagia to Teladorsagia. […]
Black scour worms occur in all sheep and goat production districts of Australia. Trichostrongylus colubriformis and T. vitrinus are the main species that cause disease. T. rugatus is more commonly seen in arid regions while T. axei is […]
Barber’s pole worm is most commonly found in Queensland and the northern half of NSW where summer rainfall is common or dominant. This worm is less of a problem in […]
All of the signs below can be associated with diseases other than from worms. If animals with any of the signs below are treated with a known effective drench and […]
Factors contributing to paddock contamination with worms The following table applies to: Factor Time or conditions Effect Minimum time before worm eggs can become infective larvae. 4–10 days Short graze […]
Most roundworms of sheep and goats share this basic roundworm life cycle. Dung stage Worm eggs that have passed from the sheep in dung hatch and develop through first (L1) […]
Roundworms cost the sheep and wool industry more than $430 million dollars per year (Lane et al. 2015); up from the $350 million dollars estimated by Sackett et al (2006). […]
Roundworms (nematodes) are the most important group of internal parasites affecting sheep and goats in Australia. The most important roundworms in sheep and goats in Australia are: Other roundworms found […]
Stomach flukes (Calicophoron calicophorum and Paramphistomum ichikawai) rarely cause disease in sheep or goats, but do affect yearling cattle when very heavy burdens are present e.g. coastal northern NSW. Stomach […]
Introduction Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) is a parasite affecting a range of livestock and other species. Final hosts in which it can develop to sexual maturity include livestock such as […]
There are 2 groups of fluke which can affect sheep and goats:
What worm control regions are in Tasmania? The high rainfall (prime-lamb) region This region includes King Island, the North Coast between Wynyard and Launceston. These are the high winter rainfall […]
Sheep and goats carry the same worms. When grazed together, goats carry heavier worm burdens than do sheep, especially in the absence of browse. Sheep and goats should only be […]
Why check worm burdens in goats? Checking worm burdens with a WormTest is essential for correct and timely drenching decisions and to confirm that your worm control program is on track. […]
Click on the headings below to access the following appendices: Return to Summary page
Why manage drench resistance? Never assume that a drench treatment will completely kill worms in your goats. Drench resistance is a result of worms having genes that enable them to […]
Liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) only occurs where the intermediate host – freshwater snails – are present: These snails are found where there are slow-moving creeks, swamps, springs or shallow […]
The life cycle of goat roundworms The availability of infective larvae of the winter scour worms on pasture, showing a peak around June–August (depending upon the timing of the […]
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