Fec

[Kiwi Pete]

Father - son bonding looking for parasitic worms in sheep sh!t? That's the kind of "quality family time" I aspire to...

Yes, I'm afraid there's another 2 mad scientists in the family.. "bonding time" they're so fascinated in how everything works, I'd be bonkers not to encourage it!
I caught him comparing the brix% of the shop milk to the proper raw milk with my refractometer last week- how cool is that?

 

[ISCO]

We currently collect samples and take to local at merchant to test at £8 a go. Works ok but can be inconvenient. Is it difficult To learn how to do your own accurately as that kit seems cheap enough.

 

[neilo]

We currently collect samples and take to local at merchant to test at £8 a go. Works ok but can be inconvenient. Is it difficult To learn how to do your own accurately as that kit seems cheap enough.

No, it's really easy to do (otherwise those merchants would be charging a lot more than £8). I found I do a lot more now I have all the kit set up ready to go on a worktop I made in the shed where I keep my drenches, etc. When I had to go to the trouble of unpacking and setting everything up, I didn't bother a lot of the time.
Handy to be able to test a mob when they are in for something else, then decide whether they need worming or not, while they're in.

 

[scholland]

It has arrived. Will go for some samples this afternoon.

 

[scholland]

Gave it a bash, process is simple and microscope works fine.
To much plant material in the sample maybe a bit vigorous pushing the mix through the strainer? Doesn't make it very easy to find anything. Will try again over the weekend.

 

[Downton_shep]

Gave it a bash, process is simple and microscope works fine.
To much plant material in the sample maybe a bit vigorous pushing the mix through the strainer? Doesn't make it very easy to find anything. Will try again over the weekend.

The background seams very white in the pic. And yes think you were a little ott pushing it through lol

 

[GrannyAching]

Yes I think you've been a bit heavy handed with pushing through the strainer. I'm surprised more hadn't settled during the standing time. Did you find any eggs?

 

[scholland]

The background seams very white in the pic. And yes think you were a little ott pushing it through lol

There are various colour filters on the microscope which can alter the colour.
Will try again soon...

 

[scholland]

Yes I think you've been a bit heavy handed with pushing through the strainer. I'm surprised more hadn't settled during the standing time. Did you find any eggs?

Found a couple but wouldn't be confident with the amount of grass!

 

[scholland]

Here comes the dullest YouTube video ever!

 

[TL100]

Does anyone use fecpak g2 online service? I assume it's a subscription where they supply all the kit except the microscope and interpret the results for you.

 

[neilo]

Does anyone use fecpak g2 online service? I assume it's a subscription where they supply all the kit except the microscope and interpret the results for you.

It's a subscription service, where they interpret the results for you. You still have to buy the kit, collect & prepare the sample, then take the image to upload to them.

You can put the complete kit together for less than the cost of theirs, and the actual counting & interpretation really isn't hard to do. I'd imagine most vets would help with interpretation of results, if you need help getting started, or there are lots on here doing FEC now who would no doubt offer (widely variable) advice.

 

[scholland]

Tried again tonight, better pictures but still not finding any eggs...
Will be sorting lambs the next few days so I'll collect from the tail enders and try again.

 

[Downton_shep]

I'm no expert at this but in your video there doesn't seam to be any air bubbles. I use the bubbles to set the focus. When the bubbles are bang on focus it's easy to see the eggs.

 

[scholland]

I'm no expert at this but in your video there doesn't seam to be any air bubbles. I use the bubbles to set the focus. When the bubbles are bang on focus it's easy to see the eggs.

Ye I've just watched that online. Try again...

 

[scholland]

Focus sorted but still no eggs. Will check the solution is salty enough tomorrow (mixed as per instructions) and try some different sheep.

 

[pine_guy]

Focus sorted but still no eggs. Will check the solution is salty enough tomorrow (mixed as per instructions) and try some different sheep. View attachment 569492

Could just be the picture, but I think there is an egg, just to the right off the blue line on the left side of the picture. Half way up.

 

[scholland]

Could just be the picture, but I think there is an egg, just to the right off the blue line on the left side of the picture. Half way up.

If they're that faint I'll need to try focusing again or sharpen my eye sight!
Will get someone to go through it with me next week if I don't get the hang of it over the weekend.

 

[Downton_shep]

Bubbles look much better!
Still not sure why it looks like the fluid is so clear

There should be undesolved salt in the bottom of your saturated solution

 

[pine_guy]

Bubbles look much better!
Still not sure why it looks like the fluid is so clear

There should be undesolved salt in the bottom of your saturated solution

Look very similar to the one I got done at the vets last week, but it had more bibles and less grass. What colour should the piqued be?