When to Worm & Egg Identification

[Percy Veer]

Have just bought myself a microscope to test for eggs in lamb dung and I've a couple of questions -

How do you differentiate between a strongylid egg and a nematodirus egg?

How many coccidia, strongylid and nematodirus eggs per gram, make it necessary to worm?

Thanks

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Not the best image but should give you an idea til someone posts a better one.

General rule of thumb -If you see nematodirus at all then drench for it.
Strongyles- 400-500 eggs /gram, but take into account body condition etc.
Cocci - not a safe way to assess as there harmless ones as well as harmful that aren't distinguishable - look for symptoms.

 

[yellowbelly]

These pics any better? (nicked 'em from @GrannyAching's post on @Man_in_black's thread.... https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/diy-fec-starter-kit.230090/page-2

 

[GrannyAching]

Worming counting isn't the only measure - you need stock skills and knowledge of the land and stock. It will hopefully, stop you treating with wormer when it isn't necessary.

On cocci, you will need to send off a sample but if you have loose lambs and the slide is covered in cocci you know you need that test. Equally, I bought DB cocci buckets but my slides are clear since teh weather got so hot so I am not using them.

Also going to recommend Biobest for fluke testing - good fast service if you fit in with their timetable. I didn't fluke anything on my home pasture last winter. All my slaughter livers came back clean. So proof of the pudding.

 

[Percy Veer]

Thanks, guys