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C A S E S T U D Y
SUMMER 2010 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
18
Eric Thompson also followed advice to
reduce pasture contamination in the following
year. Grazing management can help to
avoid any unnecessary exposure to some
worms whilst allowing the sheep to build up
their own natural immunity to the parasites
which are present.
‘Exposure of lambs to worms increases
throughout the summer and into early autumn.
By moving them to pastures with a lower
worm burden, this avoids intensive drenching
and improves performance,’ adds
Mr Richards.
Due to the differing worm burden facing his
flock, Mr Thompson was also advised to
alternate between 'clear' and 'white'
worming products.
Ewes were also treated during lambing 2009
as an effective means of reducing pasture
contamination which arises from the reduced
immunity of the ewe at this time. However,
concerns over resistance means this wasn’t
repeated in 2010. Instead just the poorer
ewes were targeted with a wormer, as these
have the biggest contribution to egg counts.
The Flock Health Plan at Butterbent Farm also
recommended that replacement breeding
ewes brought on to the farm should be
yarded for 24 to 48 hours and drenched
appropriately before joining the main flock.
‘Using Iain's knowledge and correct
diagnosis I was able to correct the poor lamb
growth rates in 2008 and ever since then,
through regular FEC monitoring, the worm
burden is now at very low levels. Drenching
and labour costs have also been reduced,’
adds Mr Thompson.
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Work with your vet to develop an
integrated plan
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Check grazing management
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Know which parasites threaten
your lambs
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Use regional information and
risk assessment
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Use Faecal Egg Counts to monitor
the need to drench
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Avoid dosing pre tupping
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Leave the fittest 10-20% of the
group untreated
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If you can't weigh the sheep, dose
for the heaviest in the group
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Check your drenching gun
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Administer correctly
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Store products securely
WORM CONTROL
GETTING IT RIGHT
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100 acres of owned and
rented ground
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Mule ewes put to Suffolk tups
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Lambing from Mid-March to May
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All ewes scanned, twins separated
and managed
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Aims to rear 370 lambs annually
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Lambs taken through to fat (18kg
deadweight)
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Rear 95% from grass
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Tough culling policy for barren ewes,
poor teeth and bad bags
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All replacements bought-in
FARM FACTS
AT HIGH BUTTERBENT FARM