Copper oxide wire particles to control H. contortus on sheep and goat farms with a range of grazing practices

View the project final report

• 2013 annual report
• 2014 annual report
• 2015 annual report
• 2016 annual report

Commodities

• Animals: goats, sheep

Practices

• Animal Production: parasite control, preventive practices
• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, workshop
• Production Systems: agroecosystems, holistic management

Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm, stomach worm) is ubiquitous in sheep flocks and goat herds. An on-line December 2011 survey sent to list-servers and our data base of 3,825 people interested in sheep and goat farming reported recent H. contortus (73%) problems with more than 2/3 finding labor and treatment costly. Overuse of chemical dewormers has allowed the worm population to develop resistance. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) are an alternative to chemical anthelmintics. COWP have effectively reduced infection of H. contortus in the Southeast US, but it is not clear how safe and effective COWP are in the Northeast. This project will educate farmers about how to integrate limited anthelmintic use with other strategies for controlling internal parasites and determine effectiveness and risks of incorporating different dosages of COWP into parasite management systems for Northeast farms. The PI and his Extension Associate colleague will lead this project, working with veterinarians and Extension educators to develop and implement curricula on integrated control of internal parasites. Through web sites and presentations at workshops, symposia, and regional meetings, this team will encourage farmers to adopt effective strategies to control H. contortus in sheep and goats. Trials of COWP will be replicated on 5 NY farms and 2 other Northeast farms. Weaned lambs and kids will be randomly assigned within farm to Control, low (0.5 g), or moderate (2 g) COWP. Individual fecal samples and FAMACHA scores will be obtained on days 0, 14, and 28 after administration of the COWP. Fecal eggs specific for H. contortus (differential assays and larval coproculturing) will be counted and the effectiveness of these methods compared statistically. Of 100 participating farmers surveyed, 75% will report deworming less and reducing their chemical dewormer costs by as much as $215 in a 100-doe or ewe flock, citing adoption of FAMACHA and other non-chemical internal parasite control methods. The low dose of COWP will reduce deworming cost by $142 compared with chemical dewormers with the added potential benefits of some farmers being able to meet organic farming standards and other farmers maintaining the effectiveness of selective use of chemical anthelmintics. Most importantly, these strategies both reduce deaths from internal parasites from as many as 18 animals per year to 5 animals per year, increasing income by $2,205 in a herd or flock of 100 mature females.

Milestones

1. Three-thousand sheep and goat farmers learn about this research and extension project and are directed to an on-line survey about their methods of controlling H. contortus and other internal parasites.

2. Five-hundred farmers complete the survey and 300 agree to receive additional information about controlling H. contortus with minimal use of chemical anthelmintics.

3. Two-hundred farmers attend field days, workshops at regional conferences, or extension programs to learn directly about control of H. contortus and other internal parasites using COWP and other methods, such as FAMACHA scoring, evasive pasture management, and forages high in condensed tannins. Twelve farmers agree to do the research with COWP.

4. One-hundred participating farmers respond to follow up questionnaires or interviews on changes made in internal parasite management. Seven farmers carry out the research with COWP.

Performance target

Of 100 participating farmers surveyed, 75% will report deworming less and reducing their chemical dewormer costs by as much as $215 in a 100-doe or ewe flock, citing adoption of FAMACHA and other non-chemical internal parasite control methods. The low dose of COWP will reduce deworming cost by $142 compared with chemical dewormers with the added potential benefits of some farmers being able to meet organic farming standards and other farmers maintaining the effectiveness of selective use of chemical anthelmintics. Most importantly, these strategies both reduce deaths from internal parasites from as many as 18 animals per year to 5 animals per year, increasing income by $2,205 in a herd or flock of 100 mature females.