Parasite resistancewidespread issue
Checking internal worm resistance costs only 13 cents per lamb, says Dannevirke-based consultant Tony Rhodes, but it is money well spent.
He had an expo site at Beef & Lamb’s seminar for farm professionals.
Rhodes was talking about testing for parasite resistance.
He encouraged other professionals to suggest it should be done on all farms.
It is an issue for many farmers, who drench their stock in an effort to control internal parasites, which can result in animals scouring and production losses.
‘‘Most farmers wouldn’t have a clue as to what drenches kill what worms on their farm.’’
Rhodes said testing showed there were resistant parasites to families of drenches.
‘‘If farmers keep on doing things the way they have for years, there’ll be a few that end up with dead stock and a lot will be forced into having to use very expensive products and in the meantime they’ve lost a lot of production.’’
The information was out there to tell farmers what they should be testing, rather than leaving it to chance, said Rhodes.
‘‘Most farmers don’t have much money. ‘‘If you want to do a faecal egg count, it is about $1500. But you’d probably do one only every three years.
‘‘And it tells you what drenches are working against what worms and what isn’t working.’’
Rhodes said the issue could start a discussion about managing stock.
‘‘You’re asking them to spend $1500 to do a test and a farmer can buy a drum of drench for $300.’’
But he said the test was like an insurance policy. ‘‘Farmers think nothing of writing out a cheque to insure the house or tractor.
‘‘And the test is a way of writing out a cheque that will help them safeguard their land revenue.’’