Improving small ruminant parasite control in New England

2012 Annual Report for LNE10-300

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2010: $179,205.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2013
Region: Northeast
State: Rhode Island
Project Leader:
Katherine Petersson
University of Rhode Island

Improving small ruminant parasite control in New England

Summary

Gastrointestinal nematode infections are a serious economic problem for small ruminant producers in the Northeast, limiting their ability to raise sheep and goats on pasture. The Barber Pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), in particular, has caused massive economic losses in the south and is starting to make its’ presence felt in New England. The goal of this project is to improve the parasite control practices of farmers in the region through parasite control workshops supported by farm visits. Research will investigate the anthelmintic potential of the condensed tannins in cranberries and the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the host response to parasite infection. Direct participation in workshops followed by hands-on reinforcement of best management practices during on-farm visits will result in at least three hundred and sixty producers of sheep and/or goats reducing their cost of anthelmintic use by 50% ($2/animal) on 4,240 animals (Year 1 – $2,853, Year 2 – $5,706, Year 3 – $8,560, Total – $17,119) by implementing some or all of the following practices: use of the FAMACHA system, body condition scoring, fecal egg counts for selective deworming, mixed species grazing and pasture rotation. In 2012 forty-six small ruminant producers, with a combined ownership of 728 small ruminants, attended parasite control workshops, completed a comprehensive parasite control survey and participated in the farm visit portion of this project. Additionally, preliminary results from research conducted at the University of Rhode Island and Virginia Tech demonstrate that a condensed tannin extract of cranberry leaves did not inhibit an experimental parasite infection in gerbils but did inhibit in vitro larval development and artificial exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus. Additional data is currently being analyzed and the results will be presented at upcoming meetings.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Performance Target. Three hundred and sixty producers of sheep and/or goats will reduce their cost of anthelmintic use by 50% ($2/animal) on 4,240 animals (Year 1 – $2,853, Year 2 – $5,706, Year 3 – $8,560, Total – $17,119) by implementing some or all of the following practices: use of the FAMACHA system, body condition scoring, fecal egg counts for selective deworming, mixed species grazing and pasture rotation. Project duration: 3 years.

Milestone 1 (revised). Three hundred and sixty producers of sheep and/or goats will complete a comprehensive survey on their current methods, problems and costs associated with parasite control prior to participation in the farm visit portion of this project. A brief post-visit survey will be given to all participants during the winter following the visit to their farm. Key project personnel and the producer advisory council will use information from these surveys to further refine project and workshop topics. This will occur on an ongoing basis over the project period as producers are contacted. This milestone has been partially met. During year three, the producer survey was completed by 41 producers. A brief post-visit survey was sent to all participants from year one during the winter of 2012 to determine whether or not the education opportunities and farm visits that occurred during year one translated into measurable changes in behavior during year two when the producers were managing on their own. Twelve producers responded to the follow-up survey.

Milestone 2. Research conducted at the University of Rhode Island will determine whether the currently recommended vitamin E supplementation has a detrimental effect on parasite resistance in sheep. Results will be presented to a wide audience (producers, extension agents, researchers) at regional and national meetings, published on extension sheets, summarized in agricultural publications and in scientific journals. This milestone has been partially met. Approximately 90% of the analyses have been completed and the manuscript resulting from this project will be submitted for publication during 2013.

Milestone 3. Research conducted at the University of Rhode Island and Virginia Tech will determine whether the bioactive component of cranberry leaves has efficacy as a natural anthelmintic in sheep. Results will be presented to a wide audience (producers, extension agents, researchers) at regional and national meetings, published on extension sheets, summarized in agricultural publications and in scientific journals. This milestone has been partially met. Due to the success with the cranberry extract in the C. elegans model, it was deemed by the researchers on this project that testing the extract using the egg hatch assay was unnecessary. During the summer of 2012, the cranberry extract was administered the Mongolian gerbil H. contortus model to test the efficacy of the extract using an animal model. In addition, preliminary analyses on the effect of cranberry extract on larval development and exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus were conducted.

Milestone 4. 900 (24%) producers will attend a workshop providing comprehensive education on parasite control. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to be trained in the use of the FAMACHA system, gain experience performing fecal egg counts and will be able to sign up for on-farm visits. Two workshops per project year will be offered in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, one workshop per project year will be offered in Rhode Island beginning in April 2010. This milestone was met. One parasite control workshop was held in Rhode Island, two were held in Vermont, and three were held in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Milestone 5. 365 (10%) producers will participate in two on-farm visits 10 to 14 days apart. Producers will gain hands-on experience in FAMACHA card scoring, body condition scoring and rectal fecal sampling. Analysis of samples obtained from these visits will provide farmers with information on the level of flock susceptibility to parasites, parasite identification and the degree of anthelmintic resistance on each farm to the de-wormer being used. Farm visits will occur during the summer of each project year. This milestone has been partially met. Forty-six producers participated in the farm visit portion of this project (CT – 10, MA – 11, RI – 4, VT – 21) this past summer.

Milestone 6 (revised). 360 (10%) small ruminant producers will reduce anthelmintic use by using the FAMACHA© system, BCS and FEC to selectively deworm those animals infected with parasites. (Yrs 2-3). The number of producers has been changed to reflect the final performance target. A follow-up survey to producers from year one was administered during Jan-March 2012 via surveymonkey.com or via hardcopy. Twelve producers responded to the follow-up survey.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Milestone 1. Producer Survey
• Forty-one producers completed the preliminary comprehensive survey. (CT -9, MA-9, VT-19 and RI-4) (May through November, 2011).
• The survey questions remained the same as the previous year however we only had them answer the questions in relation to their parasite control practices from the previous year. We eliminated the current year questions. This significantly shortened the survey and as a result we did not receive any complaints on the length of the survey.
• This year we provided all producers a hardcopy of the survey with a postage paid return envelope at the workshops. This system seemed to work much better for all. Once we received the survey’s in the mail we entered their responses into SurveyMonkey.

Milestone 2. Vitamin E research.
• We are finishing up the remaining analyses and will be submitting results for publication this year.

Milestone 3. Cranberry research.
• Administration of the cranberry extract to the Mongolian gerbils did not have an effect on an experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. We did observe a significant inhibitory effect of cranberry extract on larval development and artificial exsheathment.
• The efficacy of cranberry leaf powder on an experimental Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs will be determined during the summer of 2013.

Milestone 4. Workshops.
• Development of a more extensive workshop material packet that included hard copies of the survey with a postage paid return envelope.
• From April 27th to May 6th, 2012, five producer workshops (MA-1, CT–2, VT-2) and the advisory council meeting were held.
• Four additional workshops/training sessions were held (MA-2, CT-1, RI-1)
• In January of 2013 a parasite control workshop will be videotaped and CD’s generated to distribute to producers this coming year.

Milestone 5. Farm visits
• Forty-six producers participated in the farm visit portion of this project (CT – 10, MA-11, RI-4, VT-21).
• A training session was held for the student workers in June.
• There was, again, a large number of farms that had very few animals, or animals with very low fecal egg counts therefore, these farms did not require a second visit. We made sure that the producers understood that they were only guaranteed one visit and if they had a sufficient number of animals with a large enough egg burden we would come back for a second visit to determine anthelmintic efficacy.
• Massachusetts producers have become more engaged in this project therefore we plan to extend the farm visits for an additional summer to continue our outreach and help with the development of a small ruminant producer network.
• Vermont has an amazing network of small ruminant producers that continue to demonstrate a high level of interest in this project. As funds allow, we hope to continue an outreach effort in Vermont this coming summer.
• The shipping system worked well this year.
• As parasite season doesn’t start until late June/early July through the end of August this poses problems for student workers devoting their summer to this project. This coming summer we are hoping to engage some motivated small ruminant producer participants to conduct the farm visits for their state.
• This summer we are also planning to offer farm visits to producers even if they have not attended a parasite control workshop. During this visit they will be taught how to FAMACHA score their animals and fecal samples from their animals will be taken to determine the fecal egg count and to conduct a composite fecal culture. When their farm is visited they will be given a CD that contains a video of the parasite control workshop. Once they have watched the video they will be eligible to purchase FAMACHA cards. These changes should remove the impediment of attending a limited number of workshops but at the same time be able to disseminate the information in a manner that will be of great use to them.

Milestone 6. Change in behavior.
• 73% of producers responding to the follow-up survey have changed their parasite control program as a direct result of participation in this project.
• The top five practices that are implemented the most since participating in this project are:
• FAMACHA scoring
• Body condition scoring
• Fecal egg counts
• Grain supplementation
• Genetic selection for parasite resistance

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

• An advisory council, consisting of respected sheep and goat producers from all participating states, met April 30, 2012.
• Forty-one producers completed a comprehensive parasite control survey.
• Eight parasite control workshops for small ruminant were held in four states. There was overwhelmingly positive feedback from these workshops.
• Forty-six producers participated in farm visits. In general, the majority of producers were very satisfied with the farm visits.
• Cranberry condensed tannin extract did not inhibit an experimental Haemonchus contortus infection in gerbils but did inhibit larval development and artificial exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus.

Collaborators:

Mark Huyler

mhuyler@vasci.umass.edu
Lecturer
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Veterinary and Animal Sciences
302 Stockbridge Hall
Hadley, MA 01035
Office Phone: 4135452344
Anne Zajac

azajac@vt.edu
Associate Professor
Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Maryland
Biomed Sciences and Pathobiology
Phase II, Room 121
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Office Phone: 5402317017
Holly Burdett

hburdett@uri.edu
Extension Associate
University of Rhode Island
120 Flagg Road
CBLS Rm 383
Kingston, RI 02881
Office Phone: 4018742249
Joyce Meader

joyce.meader@uconn.edu
Dairy/Livestock Educator
University of Connecticut - Cooperative Extension
139 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, CT 06234
Office Phone: 8607749600
Amy Howell

ahowell@aesop.rutgers.edu
Associate Research Scientist
Rutgers University
Marucci Center for Blueberry Cranberry Research
125A Lake Oswego Road
Chatsworth, NJ 08019
Office Phone: 6097261590
Jess Reed

jdreed@wisc.edu
Professor
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Dept. Animal Sciences
1675 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 5370-1284
Office Phone: 6082634310
Chet Parsons

cfparson@uvm.edu
Livestock Specialist
University of Vermont
UVM Extension
278 South Main Street, Suite 2
St. Albans, VT 05478
Office Phone: 8025246501
Dr. Daniel Hudson

daniel.hudson@uvm.edu
Agronomist and Nutrient Management Specialist
University of Vermont Extension
397 Railroad Street
Suite 3
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Office Phone: 8027518307
Kristen Castrataro

kcas@uri.edu
Extension Educator
University of Rhode Island
URI Cooperative Extension
3 East Alumni Ave, Kingston
Kingston,, RI 02881
Office Phone: 4018742967
Stephan Purdy

srpurdy@vasci.umass.edu
Associate Professor
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
111 North Maple Street
Hadley, MA 01035
Office Phone: 4135493820