Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #236911
Title: Small ruminant producer gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) management survey

Author
item WHITLEY, N - NC A&T STATE UNIVERISTY
item KAPLAN, R - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Burke, Joan
item TERRILL, T - FORT VALLEY STATE UNIV
item MILLER, J - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item GETZ, W - FORT VALLEY STATE UNIV
item MOBINI, S - FORT VALLEY STATE UNIV
item VALENCIA, E - UNIV OF PUERTO RICO
item WILLIAMS, M - NRCS GAINESVILLE FL

Submitted to: Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2009
Publication Date: 7/1/2010
Citation: Whitley, N.C., Kaplan, R.M., Burke, J.M., Terrill, T.H., Miller, J.E., Getz, W.R., Mobini, S., Valencia, E., Williams, M.J. 2010. Small ruminant producer gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) management survey [abstract]. Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA. 87:(E-Suppl. 2):310.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective was to determine, by survey, sheep and goat producer GIN management methods. Respondents from GA (n equal to 62), FL (n equal to 30), PR (n equal to 7), LA (n equal to 14) and other southern states (n equal to 11) had a total of 4434 goats (67.4 plus or minus 3.9 percent of responders) and 2821 sheep (35.4 plus or minus 3.9 percent of responders). New (non-sire) animals were brought to the farm by 71.4 plus or minus 3.5 percent of responders. A moderate to severe parasite problem was indicated by 77.9 plus or minus 3.5 percent of responders with 59.1 plus or minus 4.3 percent indicating increased or no change in problem severity over the past 3 yr. For 87.2 plus or minus 4.3, 50.4 plus or minus 2.9, 60.1 plus or minus 3.7, 97.7 plus or minus 3.9, 23.5 plus or minus 1.9, 15.0 plus or minus 3.1 and 18.0 plus or minus 2.4 percent of respondents, anthelmintics used were benzimidazoles, imidazothiaoles, moxidectin, ivermectin, Eprinex or Dectomax, Rumatel and/or herbal/natural products, respectively. The following parasite management methods were reported by respondents: estimating individual animal BW for anthelmintic treatment (54.2 plus or minus 4.6 percent); treating new animals (77.4 plus or minus 5.2 percent) with the same routine as for existing animals (65.0 plus or minus 4.9 percent); rotating anthelmintics (42.9 plus or minus 3.5 percent); rotating pastures (68.5 plus or minus 4.1 percent); treating at pre-set times (24.1 plus or minus 3.7 percent), as needed (35.3 plus or minus 4.2 percent) or both (38.3 plus or minus 4.2 percent); moving weaned offspring to a new pasture (55.8 plus or minus 4.7 percent) or back to the same pasture (53.3 plus or minus 4.6); testing for fecal GIN egg at least once/yr (36.4 plus or minus 2.6 percent) and treating every 4, 8 or 12 wk (16.7 plus or minus 4.1, 17.9 plus or minus 4.2 and 19.0 plus or minus 4.3 percent, respectively). Respondents reported treating animals 4.8 plus or minus 0.4 times/yr. Factors influencing anthelmintic usage for greater than 75 percent of respondents included cost, ease of use, technical meetings, journal articles, producer and veterinarian recommendations, and good effects. Parasite management education can be developed to address issues determined by this and similar surveys.