Controlling internal parasites is one of the biggest
concerns for small ruminant producers.
Parasites have become difficult to manage due to
an increasing resistance to many dewormers.
This video will show you a few simple ways to correctly
select animals to deworm, proper drenching techniques,
and obtaining fecal samples.
One of the easiest ways to determine if your small
ruminant is having a heavy parasite load, is Famacha Scoring.
Haemonchus Contortus is the most prevalent parasite
in small ruminants and survives by feeding off the
blood supply in your animal.
The heavier the parasite load of Haemonchus Contortus,
and other blood sucking parasites, the more anemic
the animal will be.
A Famacha Score is a direct correlation to the packed cell volume,
which relates to anemia.
Famacha cards are read on a scale of 1-5.
One being the least anemic, and five being the most anemic.
To Famacha score your animal, place the card next to
the animal's eye, and compare the color of the card
with the color of the mucus membranes of the lower eyelid.
Score both eyes. If the score is different, choose the
more conservative of the two.
To obtain an accurate reading, be sure to open the eye
for a short period of time. If it is open for a longer period
of time, the result could be an inaccurate reading.
By being able to obtain a Famacha score, you will be
able to choose which animals to deworm.
Famacha scoring is easy to do, and a great way to
monitor herd health. Attend a certified Famacha clinic
to obtain Famacha cards, and gain the expertise
needed to use this system.
With this system, only the animals with a score of four
or five should be drenched. This will decrease the amount
of drenching and money used by the producer on
dewormers. A score of three is borderline.
Take other measures to see if the animal is well.
Use the hair coat and overall health as well as body
condition score. If the animal has a rougher hair coat,
and a low body condition score, one might want to
drench this animal. This will effectively help the producer
manage drenching systems.
Once the animal is identified to be drenched,
proper techniques should be used.
Have someone hold the goat so it's head is tilted back slightly.
Open it's mouth, and place the curved edge of the drench
over the back of the tongue to administer the dewormer.
This will ensure that the dewormer reachers the rumin
of the animal.
To more accurately test which dewormer works best,
a fecal egg reduction test can be completed.
To obtain a fecal sample, with gloved hands, use two
fingers placed in the rectum and pull out four to
five pellets for a sample weighing about two grams.
Place the sample into a plastic bag with the date and
number of the animal.
Place the bag in a cooler to keep the samples fresh.
Samples may be used for seven to ten days after
obtainment and refrigerated.
By using these techniques, you will be able to more
accurately control parasites in your herd and lead to
happier, healthier animals.
This presentation is a production of the Animal Science
department at Purdue University.
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