Identifying ewes resistant to gastrointestinal parasitic worms during gestation and lactation

Identifying ewes resistant to gastrointestinal parasitic worms during gestation and lactation

Summary

It is too early in the project to summarize results. The project is on target and meaningful results will be available later this year.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) Measure worm fecal egg counts (FEC) of ewes during late gestation and lactation
2) Measure FEC of lambs at first significant exposure to worm parasites
3) Examine genetic resistance of ewes during the peri-parturient rise with that of their offspring

Accomplishments/Milestones

Three producers and staff at USDA, Agricultural Research Service have collected samples from ewes and lambs during and after lambing of Year 1. Fecal egg counts have been analyzed (first year of objectives 1 and 2 have been completed). The project has entered the second lambing and samples are in the process of being collected and analyzed. Data will be analyzed after the last sample has been collected (Objective 3).

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

It is too early to realize any impact from this project.

Collaborators: