1. FAMACHA© Statewide Training for Small Ruminant Producers
For the Control of Haemonchus contortus (Barber Poll Worm) in Small Ruminants
Mississippi State University
Extension Service
Statewide Training for Small Ruminant Producers

2. Parasite Management for Small Ruminants
What is FAMACHA©?
Parasite Management for Small Ruminants

3. Control of Internal Parasites
Gastro-intestinal parasites (Worms) are the primary health problem affecting sheep and goats in warm, moist climates.

4. The Barber Pole Worm is the parasite of primary concern in the U.S.

5. Haemonchus Contortus
Common names: barber pole, wire worm, large stomach worm.
Blood-sucking roundworm that pierces the mucosa of the abomasum, causing blood and protein loss to the host.

6. Haemonchus Contortus
Needs warm (60°F), moist conditions to complete its life cycle.
Pasture is the primary mode of transmission.
It is estimated that 80% of the worm larvae is found in the first two inches of grazing vegetation.

7. Haemonchus Contortus
Young animals and highly stressed adults are most vulnerable to its effects.

8. Barber Poll Worm Control
1) Has a short life cycle. On average 2 to 3 weeks
As short as 7 days
2) Has a direct life cycle. No intermediate host is required

9. Barber Pole Worm Control
3) Is a prolific egg producer. Has been estimated that 30% of the flock is responsible for 70% of the egg output
4) Is very adaptable. Can go into a hypobiotic (arrested) state in the animal to survive poor environmental conditions

10. Barber Pole Worm Control
5) Is very resilient
Can survive on pasture for a long time
60 days pasture rest is needed to reduce pasture contamination to a low level
Some larvae survive over winter
Has become resistant to most anthelmintics
THE PROBLEM TODAY!

11. Barber Pole Worm Count

12. Symptoms of Barber Pole Worm Infection…
Death
Loss of Body Condition
Anemia (pale mucous membranes)
Edema – “bottle jaw” accumulation of fluid under jaw

13. What is FAMACHA???
A novel system for monitoring barber pole worm infection in small ruminants
Developed in South Africa due to the widespread emergence of drug resistant worms
Originally developed for South African sheep, but has been validated for sheep and goats in the United States

14. What is FAMACHA??? An eye chart for evaluating clinical anemia
Anemia is the primary symptom of barber pole worm infection
FAMACHA© enables selective deworming of clinically parasitized animals, while leaving healthy animals untreated

15. Deworming recommendation
What is FAMACHA???
Clinical Category
Color
Deworming recommendation 1
Red No 2
Red-Pink 3
Pink ? 4
Pink-White
Yes 5
White

16. Prolongs effectiveness of anthelmintics
What FAMACHA does…
Reduces the number of animals dewormed (though some may need treating more often)
Saves money on drugs
Reduces drug use
Reduces selection for resistant worms, by increasing refugia: (worms not exposed to drugs)
Prolongs effectiveness of anthelmintics

17. What FAMACHA does…
Identifies susceptible and resistant animals in the flock (parasite resistance is moderately heritable)
Assists with selection and culling decisions
Adds value to breeding stock

18. How to make FAMACHA work
Always use the card
Do not use a copy of the card
Keep card in location where it will not fade
Check flock often (every 2-3 weeks during the “worm” season)
Have an easy way to handle your animals

19. What FAMACHA will not do...
Eliminate the need for other parasite control practices
Save you time
You may deworm less frequently, but you’ll spend more time checking your animals
Help with other potential parasite problems
Other GI worms
Coccidia
Etc.

20. FAMACHA© is not a magic bullet used to solve all problems
FAMACHA© is not a magic bullet used to solve all problems. It is another tool to use in a small ruminant management program.

21. Strategic Parasite Control
Effective Deworming for Strategic Control

22. Strategic Parasite Control
Prevention is the best method for controlling parasites Successful parasite control means reducing or eliminating environmental contamination

23. Strategic Parasite Control
Steps should include several key goals
1). Animals should be as free of parasites during periods of low or reduced nutrition such as during the wintertime
2). The females should be free of parasites at kidding/lambing time
3). Recontamination of spring pastures should be eliminated for the first three months of the grazing season

24. Classes of Dewormers
The three general classes of dewormers are benzimidazoles, Levamisole and Macrolytic Lactones

25. Classes of Dewormers
I-Benzimidazole - Fenbendazole (Safeguard, Panacur) and Albendazole (Valbazen) II-Levamisole - Levisol, Tramisol and Morantel Tartrate (Rumatel) III-Macrolytic Lactones - Ivermectin (Ivomec) and Moxidectin (Cydectin) Only Fenbendazole, Albendazole and Morantel Tartrate were approved for use in small ruminants. Others have been used as extra-label. A number of dewormers have gone off-patent now and are marketed under different generic names

26. Resistance
The major problem in controlling parasitism in small ruminants is genetic resistance to most all dewormers
Resistance has developed primarily due to dewormers being used and rotated too frequently. Many times under-dosing occurs
Continued rotation of dewormers will increase selection of more resistant worms in animals which will result in a population of "superworms" that can not be controlled with drugs

27. Resistance
Resistance is genetically controlled, and once established, set in the population. Those dewormers can no longer be used effectively. Only change dewormers when one does not work, then change between classes of dewormers. *New research has Indicated use of two products at once may be more effective*

28. Resistance to Anthelmintics
We are currently seeing that worms have become resistant to most of the anthelmintics. As a rule of thumb, 70% of parasite infection comes from 30% of the flock. Identify resistant genetics in your flock! Cull parasite carriers!

29. Resistance to Anthelmintics
Only 3 drug families!
Benzimidazoles
Levamisoles
Macrolytic Lactones
Resistance occurs when anthelmintic treatment fails to reduce worm egg count by 90%. Severe resistance exists when anthelmintic reduces egg count by less than 60%

30. Use of Two Dewormers….
New research indicates that use of two different type of dewormers at the same time can increase the effectiveness of both and eliminate more resistant parasites as a result.

31. Use of Two Dewormers….
If two drugs each with 90% efficacy are used in rotation, then each time animals are treated, 10% of the worms survive (the resistant ones).  In contrast, if these same two drugs are used in combination at the same time, then the efficacy increases to 99%. 

32. Administration of Dewormers
Oral administration is preferred; and with drenches, it is very important to make sure the product is delivered over the base of the tongue
By doing so, the dose is
delivered to the rumen
and then distributed
evenly throughout
the gastrointestinal tract

33. Administration of Dewormers
The other form of oral administration is in feed products.
This does not ensure
that all animals will
receive an effective
dose because
Individual animals
utilize these products differently

34. Sustainable Practice
Keep in mind that regularly deworming all of your flock is not a sustainable practice. You need to be selectively deworming your goats and sheep.

35. Integrated Parasite Management (IPM)
Pasture rest/rotation
Safe pastures
Multi-species grazing
Management of grazing height
Alternative forages/treatments
Nutritional supplementation
Zero grazing
Fecal egg analysis
Proper anthelmintic use
Selective deworming

36. Parasite Control… Control and prevention need to be planned
Select animals for parasite resistance
Grazing management
Don’t let grass get lower than 4”
Longer rest periods help break the cycle (>40 days)
Strategic deworming program
FAMACHA

37. Other Parasites…
“Cousins” of the barber pole worm cause digestive problems, e.g. scouring
Ostertagia spp.
Trichostrongylus spp.
Nematodirus
Tapeworms- Only worm that is
visible in the feces

38. The FAMACHA© system is not useful for any of these other parasites
Lungworms- Difficult to detect in live animal Coccidia- Protozoa, major disease issue in small ruminants Meningeal worm- Parasite of white tail deer, causes neurological symptoms
The FAMACHA© system is not useful for any of these other parasites

39. Grazing & Pasture Management
Another Tool in Parasite Management

40. Management Considerations…
Predator Control
Fencing
Shelter
Parasite Control
Pasture & Grazing Management

41. Predator Control…
Guard dog and fencing that is wire high tensile power fence or net wire with wider mesh.

42. Fencing… High Tensile electric/power
5-8 wire perimeter at least 40”- 42” tall, the bottom wire 6”-8” from the ground and 6”-12” spacing between wires
2-6 wire interior
Ground rods every 1,300’-2,600’

43. Fencing…

44. Fencing… Woven Wire (Galvanized high tensile is available)
39” tall and at least 1 barbed strand
6”x12” mesh is preferred to minimize horns being caught
May run an electric offset wire 12”-15” from the ground to reduce animals getting caught or climbing on fence

45. Fencing…

46. Shelter…
Goats and sheep need some type of shelter from rain and other extremes

47. Grazing Management Objectives…
Manage forage to meet goat/sheep nutritional needs
Manage internal parasite levels
Maintain pasture condition

48. Utilize Proper Stocking Rates…
Lower stocking rates and higher residuals will generally have less of a parasite build up in the pasture

49. How Many Per Acre? Stocking rates vary by: Pasture quality Rainfall
Forage species
Time of year
Soil fertility
Amount of supplementation
Grazing management (continuous, rotational or intensive)

50. Stocking rate…
6-8 head per acre is usually a safe stocking rate on well managed pastures for small ruminants

51. Grazing Preferences… Goats Prefer browse over grass
Prefer forbs over grass
Prefer grass over clover
Prefer taller plants
Tend to graze perimeter
before center of pasture
Graze from the top down

52. Grazing Preferences… Sheep Prefer grass over browse
Prefer grass over forbs
Prefer grass and clover

53. Susan Schoenian. Copyright© 2011. Sheep 101 and 201.
Grazing Preferences…
Percentage Diet Preference of Sheep and Goats
Sheep Goats
Grass
Weeds
Browse
Susan Schoenian. Copyright© Sheep 101 and 201.

54. Utilize Grazing Behavior…
Higher from the ground animals graze, the less likely they are to pick up parasite larvae
High tannin diets reduce reproduction of internal parasites

55. Utilize Grazing Behavior…
Plants with high tannins or compounds that help control internal parasites
Sericea Lespedeza Annual Lespedeza
Birdsfoot Trefoil Arrowleaf Clover
Berseem Clover Crown Vetch
Chicory Oak Leaves
Walnut Leaves Mulberry
Mimosa Acacia
Autum Olive Multiflora-Rose

56. Spring Grazing…
Keep pasture vegetative Rotate frequently to increase the intake of high quality plants and prevent regrowth from being eaten too soon Rest pastures days to allow plants time to recover

57. Summer Grazing…
Try to have cool season pastures fully utilized by the end of June and then rest all summer if possible Graze warm season grasses such as lespedeza, chicory, etc.

58. Fall/Winter Grazing… Start using cool season pastures
By this time they have had days of rest during the summer
Defer grazing on some pastures to stockpile for winter grazing

59. Fall/Winter Grazing… Allow warm season pastures to rest all winter
Rotate similar to spring but stay in each pasture a little longer to give a longer rest period (35-40) days
Forage quality won’t drop as quickly in the fall
Utilize stockpiled grasses for winter feeding
Strip graze to improve utilization

60. AGRICULTURE/LIVESTOCK
RESOURCES
AGRICULTURE/LIVESTOCK
/GOATS AND SHEEP

61. A Healthy Animal is a Happy Animal!