PowerPoint presentation for online FAMACHA certification in 2020. Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland Extension. You can apply for online FAMACHA certification by watching this video, passing quiz, and submitting video of yourself demonstrating proper FAMACHA scoring. If you meet the certification requirements, you will receive a certificate of competence and be able to purchase a FAMACHA card from the University of Maryland. If you are interested, contact Susan Schoenian at sschoen@umd.edu.

1. University of Maryland Extension
Online FAMACHA© Certification
Requirements to purchase card and receive certificate
1. Watch webinar
(live or recording)
2. Pass test
3. Demonstrate FAMACHA©
scoring proficiency by making
and sending a video of
yourself properly scoring a
sheep, goat, llama, or alpaca.

2. QUIZ
 Test your knowledge
 25 questions based on webinar
 70 percent is passing.
 Can keep taking until you get a passing
score.
 Online quiz
https://go.umd.edu/QuizFAMACHA
VIDEO
 Make and send a video demonstrating proper
FAMACHA© scoring technique.
 Do not edit video
 Video should not exceed
30 seconds.
 Send video to FAMACHA@yahoo.com
University of Maryland Extension
Online FAMACHA© Certification
Requirements to purchase card and receive certificate

3. Sustainable Integrated
Parasite Management
(IPM) in Small Ruminants
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
sheepandgoat.com | wormx.info

4. American Consortium for Small Ruminant
Parasite Control (ACSRPC)
 The American (formerly Southern) Consortium
for Small Ruminant Parasite Control was formed in
2003 in response to the critical state of the small
ruminant industry associated with the emergence
of anthelmintic resistant worms.
 The mission of the ACSRPC is two-fold: (1)
developing novel methods for sustainable
control of gastrointestinal parasites in small
ruminants and (2) providing information to
the stakeholders in the small ruminant industry on the most up-to-date methods and guidelines for management of
gastro-intestinal parasites.
 The ACSRPC membership includes scientists, veterinarians, extension specialists, and others who meet regularly
and are in close communication, continuously updating guidelines for parasite management. Members are from
national and international institutions, including universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations,
and industries.

5. Our web site: acsrpc.org or wormx.info
The go-to place for current information about internal parasite control in small ruminants.
 Member profiles and contact information
 Best Management Practices Facts Sheets (n=12)
 Timely Topic articles (n=59)
 Blog with weekly posts
 Monthly newsletters (WORMinfo)
 Scientific articles and abstracts
 Image gallery
 Video library
 Conference proceedings
 List of certified FAMACHA© instructors
 List of upcoming FAMACHA© workshops
 Links to instructional materials (resources)
https://www.wormx.info/resources

6. Best Management Practices Fact Sheet Series
https://www.wormx.info/bmps
1. Coccidiosis
2. Copper oxide wire particles
3. Genetic selection
4. Management
5. Managing dewormer resistance
6. Nutrition
7. Parasite biology
8. Pasture management
9. Periparturient egg rise
10. Proper dewormer use
11. Sericea lespedeza
12. Targeted selective treatment

7. Gastro-intestinal parasites in small ruminants
 Primary health problem affecting small ruminants in warm,
moist climates, especially during periods of seasonal rainfall.
 Worms have developed resistance to all dewormers
and dewormer classes.
 Few dewormers are FDA-approved for goats. No combination
dewormers are available in US, and no new dewormers have
been introduced to the US in almost 30 years.
 There is no “silver bullet!” Effective internal parasite control
requires an integrated approach that combines selective use
of dewormers with management practices which aim to
minimize the need for deworming.

8. Sheep and goats can be infected simultaneously
with many different kinds of internal parasites.
MULTI-CELLULAR (HELMINTHS)
1) Nematodes
Roundworms
Strongyles
2) Cestodes
Flatworms
Tapeworms
3) Trematodes
Flatworms, leaf-like
Flukes
SINGLE CELL PROTOZOA
1) Coccidia
2) Giardia
3) Cryptosporidium

9. Nematodes – Roundworms - Strongyles
PRIMARY
1) Haemonchus contortus
Barber pole worm
2) Trichostrongylus spp.
Black scour worm
(bankrupt worm, “trichs”)
3) Teladorsagia (Ostertagia)
Brown stomach worm
OTHER
 Cooperia
small intestinal worm
 Nematodirus
threadneck worm
 Oesaphagostomum
nodule worm
 Bunostomum
Hookworm
 Trichuris ovis
Whipworm
 Strongyloides
Threadworms
 Lungworms
 Parelaphostrongylus tenuis
Meningeal worm
Deer worm, brain worm

10. Nematodes of primary importance
1) Haemonchus contortus
Barber Pole Worm
2) Trichostrongylus spp.
Black scour worm (bankrupt worm)
3) Teladorsagia (Ostertagia)
Brown stomach worm
Strongyle eggs look the same. You need to hatch the eggs into larvae in order to
differentiate. #’s 2 & 3 are often not differentiated even with larvae ID.
Strongyle
eggs

11. Life cycle of roundworms
Short and direct with no intermediate host
L3
L2 L1
L4, adult

12. Other important biological aspects
Hypobiosis
 Ability of worms to undergo a period of arrested
development (hypobiosis).
 Following infection and before completing
development, larvae become metabolically
inactive for a period that may last for several
months.
 Occurs at a time of the year when conditions in
the environment are least favorable for
development, usually winter in areas with cold
winters.
 Occurs during hot, dry periods, too.
Periparturient egg rise
 Temporary loss of acquired immunity around the
time of parturition (birthing).
 Associated with an increase in fecal egg count
and adult worm burdens.
 Caused by hormonal suppression of immunity
and nutritional stress around the time of
parturition.
 Occurs late gestation (1-2 weeks) through early
lactation (6-8 weeks).
 Eggs are deposited onto pasture and become
primary source of infection for lambs/kids
grazing spring/summer pastures.

13. Clinical signs of infection with strongyles
BARBER POLE WORM
 Anemia
Blood and protein loss
Low packed cell volume (PCV)
 “Bottle jaw”
Sub-mandibular edema
Swelling directly under jaw
 Loss of weight and body condition
 Diarrhea (scours)
 Weakness
 Anorexia
 Death
 Sudden death.
TRICHOSTRONGYLES/TELADORSAGIA
 Hypersensitivity of gut
Damage and inflammation of gut
Diarrhea (scours)
 Loss of weight and condition
 Slow growth
 Lethargy
 Death (sometimes)
 Effects are usually additive due to mixed
infections with H. contortus.

14. Clinical signs of infection with strongyles

15. Meningeal worm
(Parelaphostrongylus tenuis)
 Parasite of white tail deer
(non-pathogenic in deer)
 Sheep, goats, and camelids are
abnormal, aberrant hosts for parasite.
 Parasite has indirect life cycle: snail or slug
required as intermediate host.
 Small ruminants get infected when they
consume snail, slug, or slime stream
(on vegetation) containing L3 (larvae).
 Larvae travel from intestinal tract
to spinal cord to brain, causing nerve damage
and inflammation.

16. Meningeal worm
(Parelaphostrongylus tenuis)
 No definitive diagnostic in live animal. Dead end host.
 Diagnosis is usually based on clinical signs and history.
 Parasite is difficult to locate in necropsy.
 Symptoms: lameness, hind end weakness, gait abnormality,
constant itching, paralysis (extreme)
and death (rare). Animals typically maintain appetite.
 Cornell University has been evaluating treatment protocols:
fenbendazole (SafeGuard®; high dose, ELDU) + anti-
inflammatory (Dexamethasone or Banamine; Rx).
Cornell University image
http://blogs.cornell.edu/smallruminantparasites/chemical-treatment-protocols/

17. Tapeworms (Moniezia expansa)
 Easily diagnosed because you see segments in feces or
passage of tapeworms by the animal.
 Only worm that is visible in the feces or outside of the
animal.
 Tapeworms have an indirect life cycle; pasture (grass)
mites serve as the intermediate host.
 Tapeworms tend to be non-pathogenic;
immunity develops at an early age (milk tapeworm)
 Almost all research (in sheep) shows no benefit to
treating for tapeworms.

18. Tapeworms (Moniezia expansa)
 Heavy infestations
1) Mild unthriftiness and gastro-intestinal disturbances
2) Intestinal blockages (rare)
3) Can alter intestinal function and affect gut motility, causing
predisposition to enterotoxemia (occasional).
 Treatment
1) SafeGuard® (2x dose, ELDU)
2) Valbazen® (ELDU, goats)
3) Praziquantel [ELDU] is drug of choice.
 Sheep and goats can be intermediate hosts for tapeworms
that infect dogs. Called sheep measles (causes cysts in
meat).
Intestinal blockage

19. Liver flukes
Fasciola hepatica
 Regional problem in US
Pacific Northwest, Gulf Coast states
 Associated with grazing wet, poorly drained
areas.
 Snail or slug is intermediate host.
 Similar symptoms as barber pole worm.
 FAMACHA© might be useful for selective
treatment.
 Valbazen® effective against adult liver flukes.
Ivomec® Plus (clorsulon) [ELDU]

20. Coccidia (Eimeria spp.)
 Single cell protozoa
 Host-specific
 Not all Eimeria spp. are pathogenic
 Direct life cycle, but more complex
than stomach worms.
 Damages lining of small intestines
and affect nutrient absorption.
 Other major parasite of primary
concern in small ruminants.

21. Coccidiosis
 Most commonly seen in lambs and kids around time of weaning
(can be before or after).
 Most commonly observed in intensively-managed operations, but
outbreaks can occur in pasture setting, too.
 Most commonly associated with poor hygiene, wet conditions,
overcrowding, and stress.
 Sheep develop strong and lifelong immunity; coccidiosis is rare in
adult sheep.
 Goats don’t develop as strong immunity; coccidiosis can occur in
goats of any age.
 Adults harbor small numbers of coccidia and are source of
infection for their offspring. Oocyst counts increase around time of
parturition.

22. Signs of clinical coccidiosis
Sub-clinical coccidiosis may be more costly.
 Diarrhea (scours) – not always
Brown, liquid, foul-smelling
Sometimes containing blood or mucous
 Dirty hocks, tail
 Hollow flanks, hunched up appearance
 Open fleece
 Depressed
 Anorexia
 Dehydration
 Anemia
 Death (some cases)
 Fecal oocyst counts are not overly reliable as a diagnostic
tool.
Animals that recover may experience more subtle
and long-lasting effects.

23. Prevention of coccidiosis
COCCIDIOSTATS (IONOPHORES)
ANTI-COCCIDIA DRUGS
 Feed, mineral, milk replacer
1) Bovatec® (sheep, Rx goats)
Lasalocid sodium
2) Rumensin® (goats, Rx sheep) 
Monensin
3) Deccox® (sheep, goats)
Decoquinate
 Water
1) Corid® (Rx, OTC)
Amprolium
NATURAL
 Prevention starts with good hygiene,
management, and nutrition.
 Sericea lespedeza
 Oregano oil (?)
Rumensin® is toxic to equines. Bovatec® and Deccox® should not be fed to equines.

24. Treatment of coccidiosis
(5 days, individual drenching)
1) Corid® (ELDU, OTC)
Amprolium
2) Sulfa drugs (Rx)
a) Sulmet®
Sulfamethazine
b) Sulfadimethoxine
Di-methox®
 As part of 2017 Veterinary
Feed Directive (VFD), water
soluble antibiotics transitioned
from OTC to Rx. You need to
get sulfa drugs from
veterinarian.
 Though rare, treatment with
amprolium may cause
polioencephalomalacia (polio,
thiamine deficiency)

25. Anthelmintics 101
Dewormers 101

26. There are three “chemical” classes of dewormers.
There may be cross resistance with drugs in same class.
GROUP 1
Benzimidazoles
(BZ)
GROUP 2
Macrocylic lactones (ML)
GROUP 3
Nicotinic agonists
Avermectins Milbemycins Imidazothiazoles Tetrahydropyrimidines
Fenbendazole
SafeGuard®
Ivermectin
Ivomec®
Moxidectin
Cydectin®
Quest®
Levamisole
Prohibit®
Leva-Med®
Tramisol®
Levasol®
Morantel
Rumatel®
Positive Goat Pellet
Albendazole
Valbazen®
Doramectin
Dectomax®
Pyrantel
Strongid®
Oxfendazole
Synanthic®
Eprinomectin
Eprinex®

27. Anthelmintics FDA-approved for sheep
1
Benzimidazoles
Albendazole
Valbazen®
2a
Avermectins
Ivermectin
Ivomec® sheep drench
2b
Milbimycins
Moxidectin
Cydectin® sheep drench
3
Levamisole
Prohibit® Leva-Med®
Adult worms X X X X
Larvae (L4) X X X Limited
Hypobiotic larvae X X X Limited
Lungworms X X X X
Tapeworms X
Liver flukes Adult stage
Coccidia
External parasites
Some
labeled for bot control
Some
Not labeled
Persistent activity X X
Safety
10x
pregnancy restriction
20x 5x 3x
Dosage 3 ml/100 lbs. 3 ml/26 lbs. 1 ml/11 lbs. Depends on dilution
Meat withdrawal 7 days 11 days 7 days 3 days

28. Anthelmintics FDA-approved for goats
1
Benzimidazoles
3b
Morantel
Fenbendazole
SafeGuard®
Albendazole
Valbazen®
Feed premix
Rumatel
Adult worms X Not approved X
Larvae (L4) X Not approved sporadic
Hypobiotic larvae X Not approved
Lungworms X Not approved
Tapeworms X Not approved
Liver flukes Adult stage
Coccidia
External parasites
Persistent activity
Safety wide 10x (sheep)
pregnancy restriction
~20x (sheep)
Dosage 1.2 ml/50 lbs. 4 ml/100 lbs. Varies by product
Meat withdrawal 6 days 7 days 30 days
Milk withdrawal 0 days

29. Extra-label anthelmintics for goats
1
Benzimidazoles
2a
Avermectins
Ivomec®
sheep drench
2b
Milbimycins
Moxidectin
Cydectin® sheep drench
3a
Levamisole
Prohibit®
Leva-Med®
Fenbendazole
SafeGuard®
Albendazole
Valbazen®
Adult worms X X X X X
Larvae (L4) X X X X Limited
Hypobiotic larvae X X X X Limited
Lungworms X X X X X
Tapeworms X X
Liver flukes Adult stage
Coccidia
External parasites Some
label for bot control
Some
Not labeled
Persistent activity X X
Safety wide 10x
pregnancy
restriction
20x 5x 3x
Dosage 1.1 ml/25 lbs. 2 ml/25 lbs. 6 ml/25 lbs. 4.5 ml/25 lbs. Depends on
dilution
Meat withdrawal 16 days
(1 day for each additional day used)
9 days 14 days 17 days 4 days
Milk withdrawal 4 days
(1 day for each additional day used)
7 days 9 days 8 days 3 days

30. Anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance

31. Anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance
 Worms have developed varying degrees of
resistance to all dewormers and dewormer
groups; there may be cross resistance to
dewormers in same group.
 Resistance varies by geographic location and
individual farm and is affected by prior
deworming practices (deworm more: more
resistance).
 Resistant worms pass their resistant genes onto
the next generation or worms.
 Resistance is defined as failure to reduce fecal
egg counts by 95% or more (WAAVP). http://www.scops.org.uk/what-is-resistance.html

32. Percent farms with anthelmintic resistance
Less than 95% FECR (2016, ASI Let’s Grow)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Benzimidazoles Ivermectin Levamisole Moxidectin
Maryland Virginia Georgia
100% 92.3% 84.6%42.3%

33. How do you determine dewormer resistance?
Two ways
FECAL EGG COUNT REDUCTION
TEST
 Compare before and after (10-14 d)
fecal egg counts.
Percent fecal egg count reduction (FECR)
 ~15 animals for each dewormer
 Minimum FEC > 250 EPG
 Labor intensive
 Cost varies
$5-$20 per sample
Can learn to do yourself
DRENCHRITE® LARVAL
DEVELOPMENT ASSAY
 Lab test that determines resistance to all
dewormers and dewormer classes simultaneously
from a single pooled fecal sample. Also larvae ID.
Resistant- Suspected Resistance-Susceptible
 Only need 8-10 animals to test all drugs.
 Minimum FEC > 500 EPG
 University of Georgia only place that does test.
 At least $450 per sample

34. Practices which accelerate dewormer resistance
 Frequent deworming
 Whole flock/herd treatments
 Calendar-based treatments
 Underdosing of dewormers
 Treating and moving to a clean pasture
 Depositing drug in mouth instead of oral cavity
 Use of persistent-activity dewormers
 Use of injectable dewormers
 Use of pour-on dewormers
 Rotating dewormers
 Feeding dewormer to group of animals
 Improper storage of dewormers

35. Combination Treatments
Deworming with more than one drug at same time.

36. Why give a combination treatment?
 Research has shown that combination treatments
are the best approach.
 Unlike rotating dewormers, you get an additive
effect.
 By achieving a higher efficacy, there are fewer
resistant worms surviving treatment.
 The sooner you start using a combination, the
better off you will be.
 When combined with other “best management
practices,” combination treatments increase
refugia, prevent resistance from developing
further, and may result in a reversion back to
susceptibility.
Drug 1 Drug 2 Drug 3 Combo12 Combo123
80% 80% 80% 96.00% 99.20%
90% 90% 90% 99.00% 99.90%
60% 95% 98.00% 98.00%
60% 60% 95% 84.00% 99.20%
99% 99% 99.99% 99.99%
60% 60% 60% 84.00% 93.60%
50% 50% 50% 75.00% 87.50%
40% 40% 40% 64.00% 78.40%
95% 80% 20% 99.00% 99.20%

37. Recommended combination treatment
Give most potent drug from each class.
Valbazen®* Cydectin® Prohibit®
Sheep 1.5 ml/50 lbs.
[7 days]
4.5 ml/50 lbs.
[7 days]
Depends on dilution
[3 days]
Goats 4 ml/50 lbs.
[9 days meat]
[7 days milk]
9 ml/50 lbs.
[17 days meat]
[8 days milk]
Depends on dilution
[4 days meat]
[3 days milk]
Camelids 4 ml/50 lbs. 9 ml/50 lbs. Depends on dilution

38. Recommendations for giving combination
treatments
 Give each drug separately in a different syringe.
 Do not mix drugs; they are chemically incompatible.
 Give full dose of each drug. All oral drenches.
 Give drugs sequentially, one after the other.
 Observe withdrawal period of drug with longest
withdrawal period.
 Selectively treat; only give combination treatment to
animals requiring treatment based on FAMACHA©
score, Five Point Check©, and/or Happy Factor™.
 Implement strategy immediately, even if you have
dewormers that are more than 80% effective.

39. Natural or alternative “dewormers”

40. Natural or alternative “dewormers”
 Hundreds of plants and other substances are purported to
have anti-parasitic effects.
 However, studies are generally lacking, inconsistent, and/or
not repeatable.
 Moreover, some natural “dewormers” are potentially toxic to
the animal, e.g. copper sulfate, nicotine sulfate.
 Considerable research is being done on alternative or
natural “dewormers.”

41. Natural or alternative “dewormers”
 Natural or alternative dewormers are not likely to replace
commercial dewormers.
 However, they may complement commercial dewormers by:
+ Disrupting the free-living stage of the parasite
(e.g. inhibit egg hatching or larvae development)
+ Improving natural immunity of animal
+ Improving overall management of the flock/herd
= Reducing the number of animals that
require treatment with a commercial dewormer.
 It’s okay to use natural “dewormers,” even unproven ones, so long as you continue to regularly
monitor animals for clinical signs of parasitism and treat those showing clinical signs with a
dewormer.

42. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP)

43. Copper oxide wire particles (COWPs)
Have been shown to reduce barber pole worm infections in sheep/goats.
 Tiny needles (rods) of copper oxide.
 A slow release, poorly absorbed form of copper,
unlike copper sulfate which poses more of a copper
toxicity risk.
 Available as a copper supplement for cattle (12.5 or
and 25 g) and goats (2 and 4 g).
 Use smallest dose possible to achieve anthelmintic
effect, usually 0.5-1 g for lambs/kids and 1-2 g for
mature animals.
 Repackage cattle and goat boluses into smaller
doses for deworming, especially sheep.
 Administer using a bolus or balling gun.
 Selective treat; minimize number of treatments.

44. Using copper oxide wire particles
(COWPs) to increase dewormer efficacy
Treatment
(10-23 lambs per Tx group)
Efficacy
(%FECR)
No treatment (control) Increase
Valbazen® (3 ml/50 lbs.) 20%
COWP (2 g, Ultracruz™) 58%
COWP (2 g, Copasure®) 12%
Valbazen® + COWP 99%
Similar results would be
expected if COWPs were
combined with other
dewormers (e.g. Prohibit®).
USDA ARS (Booneville, AR) Study, Published 2016.

45. Use COWP safely
 Copper metabolism is complicated, with different
absorption rates and numerous antagonists (esp.
molybdenum).
 Copper in excess of dietary requirements accumulates in
the liver until a toxic level is reached.
 Sheep are especially vulnerable to copper toxicity.
 Before using (and periodically), assess the copper status
of your flock /herd by submitting liver or kidney samples
to a diagnostic lab for a mineral profile.
 Do not use copper sulfate for deworming or feed
minerals containing high levels of copper.

46. A natural option: worm killing
fungus

47. What is Duddingtonia flagrans?
 Duddingtonia flagrans is a naturally-occurring fungus that
trapes and kills infective roundworm larvae.
 When consumed by grazing livestock, it reduces pasture
infectivity; thereby, lowering fecal egg counts and worm
burdens in livestock (less deworming).
 It is a feed-through product, with no effect in the animal.
Clinically-parasitized animals still require deworming with
effective drugs.
 BioWorma® is safe for all animals, has no withdrawal period,
and is not harmful to the environment.

48. Two BioWorma® products
BioWorma®
 Feed additive that contains 34.6% fungus
(500,000 units per gram).
 Dosage is 0.1 ounce per 100 lbs. live weight
($0.21/day*)
 Meant to be mixed in a large batch of feed
(cannot be pelletized).
 Due to EPA restrictions, sales are limited to
veterinarians and feed mixers.
 Premier 1 Supplies (Iowa) is now able to sell
because it has veterinarians on staff.
Livamol® with BioWorma®
 Nutritional supplement that contains 2.2%
fungus (34,000 units per gram)
 Dosage is 1.6 ounces per 100 lbs. live weight
(cost: $0.59/day*)
 Mix by hand with other feed or top dress.
 Anyone can purchase.
*Premier 1 Supplies, 5/5/2020

49. Strategies for feeding BioWorma®
Manufacturer’s recommendations
 Deworm animals prior to feeding and put them
on a low worm burden pasture.
 Daily feeding.
 Feed during periods of high worm transmission
(temperatures > 40°F).
 Feed to the most worm-susceptible animals:
young stock (3-24 months of age) and
periparturient females.
 Feed as long as it take to maintain worm status
(ACSRPC recommends at least 60 days).Reduces number of worm larvae on pasture
68% - Sheep | 86% - Goats | 81% - Cattle | 84% - Horses

50. Integrated Parasite Management (IPM)

51. Sustainable Integrated parasite
management (IPM)
Management
 Host immunity
 Animal factors
 Birthing and weaning
 Nutritional management
 Pasture and grazing management
 Genetic selection
Deworming
 Targeted selective treatment (TST)
 FAMACHA© system
 Body condition score
 Five Point Check©
 Performance criteria
ADG, milk production, # offspring
 Proper use of dewormers

52. Host immunity
Source:
Understanding the Risk
Factors by Dr. Richard
Ehrhardt, ACSRPC,
http://www.wormx.info/ris
kfactors

53. Birthing and weaning management
 Time lambing/kidding to minimize parasite risk.
 Optimal time to lamb/kid will vary by climate and other
factors.
 Lamb/kid at a time of the year when parasites are less
active, usually late fall and early winter.
 Can keep animals indoors or drylot during periparturient
period to prevent contamination of pasture.
 Don’t wean lambs/kids too early (< 120 days) if they will
be raised on pasture.
 Put weaned lambs/kids in barn or dry lot for finishing to
avoid infection with parasites.

54. Nutritional management
 There is a nutritional cost to parasites,
especially protein; protein is diverted from
milk production and muscle growth to
immune response.
 Protein supplementation improves
resistance.
 Animals in poor body condition (<2) are more
susceptible to the effects of parasites.
 Energy supplementation helps with
resilience.
 Minerals are also important and should be
supplemented when there are deficiencies.

55. Pasture and grazing management
 Safe (clean) pastures
 Low risk pastures
 Rotational grazing
 Short-duration grazing
3-4 days is minimum time it takes for
egg to develop into infective larvae
 Long pasture rest periods
2-3 months
 Multi-species grazing
 Composting manure before spreading onto
fields.
 Browsing
 Bioactive forages
 Annual forage crops
 Mixed swards
 Minimum grazing height
 Delayed grazing
 Night penning
 Zero grazing (barn or dry lot)

56. Bioactive forages
 Forages containing secondary plant
metabolites that have anti-parasitic
properties.
 Forages containing condensed tannins
have been shown to have inhibitory
effects on internal parasites.
1. Sericea lespedeza
2. Chicory
3. Birdsfoot trefoil
4. Sainfoin

57. Sericea lespedeza (SL)
Lespedeza cuneata
 Perennial, warm season legume that grows
under sub-optimal soil conditions.
 Non bloating
 Classified as invasive in some states.
 Consuming SL (at least 25% of diet) by
sheep/goats has resulted in reduced fecal
egg counts, worm burdens, and clinical
symptoms.
 Effect has been demonstrated in fresh forage,
hay, silage, leaf meal, and pellets.

58. Genetic selection
 Goats are more susceptible to parasites than sheep.
 There are documented differences in breeds with regards
to parasite resistance.
 Sheep: Gulf Coast Native, hair sheep with Caribbean (West
African) ancestry, Texel (?)
 Goats: Myotonic, Kiko, Spanish
 There is as much genetic variation within a breed as
between breeds.
 Parasite resistance (fecal egg counts) is a moderately
heritable trait, 20-40%. It is possible to select for parasite
resistance.

59. Within breed differences
 Fecal egg counts are
not evenly dispersed
in a flock or herd.
 80-20 rule
Approximately
20-30% of the
flock/herd is
responsible for 70-
80% of the pasture
contamination (egg
deposits).

60. Genetic selection: two traits
RESISTANCE
 Ability of the host to reduce number of
parasites that establish, reproduce, or
survive in its body.
 Quantified by fecal egg counts (# worm eggs
per gram of feces), which are an indirect
measure of the number of worms in the
animal’s gut.
 Moderately heritable trait (20-40%).
Lower heritability in goats (?).
RESILIENCE
 Ability of host to tolerate parasitic infection,
i.e. maintain health, thrive, grow, and
reproduce.
 Quantified by observation or measurement of
clinical signs: packed cell volume (PCV),
weight gain/loss, body condition, dag score.
 FAMACHA© scores are an estimate of PCVs.
 Lower heritability than fecal egg counts.
 Not always highly correlated with FEC

61. Genetic selection via on-farm evaluation,
central performance tests, and EBVs
RAMS AND BUCKS
 Select the best
EWES AND DOES
 Get rid of the worst
Never requires deworming
Low egg shedder
Requires frequent deworming
Heavy egg shedder

62. Targeted Selective Treatment (TST)

63. Targeted Selective Treatment (TST)
 Only deworming animals which require treatment or
would benefit from treatment.
 Never treating the whole group of animals.
 Increases refugia
Slows drug resistance
 Helps to identify susceptible and resistant animals.
Refugia are worms (in animal and on
pasture) that have not been exposed to
dewormer(s), thus remain susceptible.

64. On-farm decision making tools for TST
1) FAMACHA© eye anemia
system
2) Body condition score
3) Five Point Check©
4) Performance (ADG)
5) Combined

65. FAMACHA© eye anemia system
 FAMACHA© system was developed for small-scale sheep
farmers in South Africa in response to growing anthelmintic
(dewormer) resistance.
 System validated for goats (in South Africa)
 System validated in US for sheep and goats
 System validated for South American camelids (in US).
 A system to assess anemia (primary symptom of barber pole
worm infection) in small ruminants and to determine the need for
deworming individual animals.
 Named for its originator: Dr. Francois “Faffa” Malan
Faffa Malan Chart = FAMACHA© Dr. Faffa Malan

66. FAMACHA© eye anemia system
Clinical
Category
Eye Lid
Color
Packed Cell
Volume/PCV
Treatment
recommendation
1 Red > 28 No
2 Red-Pink 23-27 No
3 Pink 18-22 ?
4 Pink-White 13-17 Yes
5 White < 12 Yes

67. FAMACHA© score 3
Deworm or not?
Deworm Don’t deworm
Goats Sheep
Kids and lambs Mature animals
Periparturient females Non periparturient females
Lactating females Dry females
High parasite challenge Low parasite challenge
Infrequent monitoring (> 3 weeks) Frequent monitoring (1-3 weeks)
> 5-10% FAMACHA© 4s and 5s < 5% FAMACHA© 4s and 5s
Downward trend in 1s and
reciprocal increase in 2s and 3s
No downward trend in scores
Flock/herd not in good body
condition and overall health
Flock/herd in good body condition
and overall health
To increase sensitivity of system
Don’t miss an anemic animal
To increase specificity of system
Don’t deworm a non-anemic animal

68. Using the FAMACHA© system
 Check at appropriate intervals; varies by
climate, season, animals, and risk of
infection/re-infection.
 Use proper technique; Always use card
COVER-PUSH-PULL-POP
 No half scores; use paler score
 Score in natural light
 Score both eyes
 Be consistent
 Learn your animals
 Don’t ignore other symptoms and factors.
 Replace card, as necessary

69. Proper FAMACHA© Scoring technique
https://youtu.be/tmeZkqGQnMg

70. Five Point Check© 5.©
 Addresses limitations of FAMACHA©, which is only effective
for blood feeding parasites, such as the barber pole worm
(maybe liver flukes).
 Extension of TST to determine need for deworming for
additional internal parasites that affect sheep and goats.
 Especially useful when deciding whether or not to deworm
FAMACHA© score 3’s.
 Involves 5 check points on the animal: eye, back, tail, jaw, and
nose.
 Developed for sheep
 For goats, can replace nose checkpoint with coat
condition.

71. Five Point Check© 5.©
Checkpoint Observation Possibilities
1 Eye Anemia
1-5 (FAMACHA© card)
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Liver fluke
Other diseases
Undernourishment
2 Back Body condition score
1-5
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
Nodular worm
Other worms and diseases
Undernourishment
3 Tail Fecal soiling
0-5 (dag score)
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
Nodular worm (Oesophagostomum)
Other worms and diseases
4 Jaw Soft swelling
“bottle jaw”
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Liver fluke
Other diseases
5 Nose Nasal discharge
Nasal botfly
Lungworms
Pneumonia
Other diseases
5 Coat Coat condition
1-3
Barber pole worm (Haemonchus)
Brown stomach worm (Teladorsagia)
Bankrupt worm (Trichostrongylus)
External parasites
Other causes

72. 2. BACK: Body condition scoring
BODY CONDITION
 Many parasites cause a loss of body condition.
 Poor body condition can also be a sign of age,
poor nutrition, or other diseases.
 Animals vary in their ability to hold body
condition.
 Body condition scores range from 1-5.
1-emaciated, 2-thin, 3-average, 4-fat, 5 obese
BODY CONDITION SCORING
 Is used to assess how fat or thin an animal is.
 Cannot be determined simply by looking at
animal.
 Is accomplished by feeling for the amount of fat
and muscle over the back, ribs, and loin edge.
 Differences among sheep and goats and
different breeds.
 Is one of the most useful management practices
for a livestock producer
 Should be done on a regular basis.

73. Score Spineous process Rib cage Loin eye
1 Very thin Easy to see and feel, sharp Easy to feel and can feel under No fat covering
2 Thin Easy to feel, but smooth
Smooth, slightly rounded, need to
use slight pressure to feel
Smooth, even fat cover
3
Good
condition
Smooth and rounded Smooth, even feel Smooth, even fat cover
4 Fat
Can feel with firm pressure,
no points can be felt
Individual ribs cannot be felt, but
can still feel indent between ribs
Thick fat
5 Obese
Smooth, no individual
vertebra can be felt
Individual ribs cannot be felt. No
separation of ribs felt.
Thick fat covering, may
be lumpy and “jiggly”
Source: www.smallstock.info

75. 3. Tail. Fecal soiling. Dag score
 The hindquarters of the
animal are assessed to
determine dag score or
degree of fecal soiling.
 Many parasites can cause
scours (diarrhea).
 Stress and diet are other
causes of diarrhea.
What is a dag? Dried feces left dangling on
the wool on a sheep’s rear end.

76. Score Description Action
0
No fecal soiling at all. No indication for
treatment/action.
None
1 Very slight soiling on edge of tail/on each side None
2 Slight soiling on edge of tail/on each side Usually none
3 Moderate soiling, dag formation Consider treatment/action
4 Severe soiling, severe dag formation Treatment recommended
5
Very severe, watering diarrhea extending to
hocks.
Treatment essential
Source: University of Pretoria, South Africa

78. 4. Jaw: “bottle jaw”
submandibular subcutaneous edema
 An accumulation of fluid (swelling)
under the lower jaw of a sheep, goat,
or calf.
 Usually a result of anemia (blood loss).
 Occurs primarily due to the infestation
of barber pole worms (Haemonchus
contortus) or other blood-feeding
parasites.
 Can also be caused by coccidiosis and
other parasites.

79. 5. Nose or coat condition
SHEEP: NOSE
 Nasal discharge: for nasal bots
GOAT: COAT CONDITION
 The condition of a goat’s hair coat can be indicative
of its overall health and thriftiness.
 Diet (nutrition) also has a large effect on coat
condition.

80. The Happy Factor™
“A happy sheep is a healthy sheep.”
 Developed in Europe and New Zealand,
where barber pole worm is not the
primary parasite, but “scour” worms are.
 Performance-based model; deworm
when animals fail to meet performance
targets (ADG).
 Will be most practical with use of
individual electronic ID and automatic
weighing platforms.
 More information/research needed. Not tested for barber pole worm: will it work?

81. Combined targeted selective treatment
Periparturient female
One or more
 FAMACHA© score > 4
 Body condition score < 2
 Bottle jaw
 > 3 offspring
 First time mother
 High producing dairy female

82. Other factors to consider when deciding to
deworm an animal
 Fecal egg count
 Fecal consistency
 Scores of other animals
 Previous scores
 Risk of re-infection
 Plane of nutrition
 Frequency of checking

83. When deworming is not enough
 Remove from contaminated pasture to avoid
re-infection and minimize environmental
stress.
 Give supportive therapy.
 Electrolytes
 Protein/energy supplements
 Vitamin/mineral supplements
 Provide high protein feed that is palatable.

84. Fecal egg counting

85. Fecal egg counting
Qualitative
 Simple fecal flotation
 Feces not weighed
 Flotation solution not measured
 Used to identify eggs and get a general idea
of how many eggs there are.
 Not very useful
Quantitative
 Feces are weighed
 Flotation solution is measured
 Identify eggs
 Determine number of eggs per gram of feces.
 Different methods
 Many uses

86. What to use fecal egg counts for
 Use to determine efficacy of dewormer(s).
Fecal egg count reduction test
Before and after (10-14 d) fecal egg counts.
 Use to monitor level of pasture contamination.
 Use to identify animals that are more resistant (or
more susceptible) to parasitic infection.
 Use with other criteria to make deworming
decisions.
 Generally not recommended as the sole criteria for
making deworming decisions, except to deworm
animal with very high FEC.

87. What you need to do your own fecal egg
counts
 Microscope
100x magnification (10x10=100x)
Mechanical stage very useful
 McMaster egg counting slide
 Flotation solution
 Gram scale
 Cups or vials
 Craft stick or tongue depressor
 Cheese cloth or tea strainer
 Pipettes or syringes
 Gloves

88. Modified McMaster Procedure
1) Weigh out 4 g of feces
2) Add 26 ml of flotation solution
3) Crush and mix feces using stick
4) Drain solution through cheese cloth or tea strainer into a clean cup
5) After stirring solution, draw up solution from top of mixture
6) Fill both sides of slide chamber.
7) Allow slide to sit for 5-10 minutes
8) Place slide on microscope
9) Focus on grid
10) Count strongyle-type eggs inside of and under grid lines
11) Record number of eggs for each grid.
12) Multiply their sum by 25 to get EPG
Note: If using 2 g of feces, add 28 ml of flotation solution and multiple number of eggs in both chambers by 50.

90. Limitations of fecal egg counts
 Not a highly accurate test, especially at low numbers.
 Parasites vary in their egg producing capacity.
 Immature worms (L4s) suck blood, but do not lay eggs.
 Inhibited larvae do not lay eggs.
 There is a day-to-day variability in counts, even in stable
worm populations.
 Eggs are not always evenly distributed in manure.
 Loose stools (diarrhea) may underestimate egg counts.
 Some eggs look the same and cannot be differentiated at
the egg stage (e.g. Haemonchus vs. Trichostrongylus)
 Not all parasites (or strains) are pathogenic.
 There are different procedures for doing fecal egg counts.
 The possibility of human error.
 Snapshot in time: not useful without other information.

91. Thank you
Comments
Questions
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu
www.wormx.info
www.sheepandgot.com