Good worm control is essential for the success of all sheep flocks. From the moment lambs are turned out onto pasture they are at risk from developing a worm burden. Jess Clayton our resident SQP at Whitchurch tells us more.
A burden can cause decreased appetite, reduced growth rates, damage to the gut, impaired mineral retention and poor protein metabolism which reduces muscle growth and carcase quality.
There are several management factors to consider which can all assist in reducing lambs to worm burden exposure…
Safe vs High risk pastures
It is essential to access which of your pastures is likely to pose the most risk to this years new lambs and where possible avoid turnout onto these.
| High Risk | Medium Risk | Low Risk |
| – Ewes and lambs grazed in the previous year. – High risk of Nematodirus if pasture carried ewes and lambs in the previous spring. – Goats have grazed in the previous year. – Store/ewe lambs grazed the previous autumn/winter. | – Grazed only by adult non-lactating sheep in the previous year. – Grazed by ewes and lambs in the previous spring, but then conserved and aftermath not grazed by sheep (but still a risk for Nematodirus!) | – New lays or forage crops. – Grazed by cattle or cut for silage/hay in the previous year (no sheep). |
Group lambs by age
Keeping lambs in close age groups at turn out can make treatment decisions more accurate when based upon faecal egg counting to monitor levels. It also creates ease for deciding treatment products in light of withdrawal periods.
Mixed grazing
Where grazing options are limited, grazing after cattle can reduce pasture contamination. Cattle ingesting sheep parasites will be unable to complete their lifecycle, so no eggs will be passed out onto the pasture.
Grazing Quality
Lambs need good quality grazing to meet growth rates and in turn will create resilience to worms as the season progresses. Avoid grazing lambs on very low sward heights (2-3cm) to reduce their intake of infective larvae which are more concentrated at the base of the grass blades.
It is essential during turnout to use faecal egg counts to monitor numbers of worms in the lambs which will determine the need to treat, provide information about the levels of pasture contamination and determines if a treatment given has been effective. Contact us if you want more information!
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