Worm burden in sheep needs regular attention

Resistance to anthelmintic worm doses has become a worldwide problem, according to a report in the July/August issue of Teagasc’s Today’s Farm magazine.

In the report, Michael Gottstein of the Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme says virtually all sheep will suffer from a worm burden at some stage, and it is the job of the shepherd to try and contain the infection to a level where acceptable animal performance is achieved. This is where anthelmintics and management practices come in to play.

Over the last few decades, frequent drenching of sheep on intensive sheep farms had been advocated to control parasites and maintain high growth rates in lambs.