Welcome to the first of our regular instalments on worm challenge across the country. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has partnered with Techion and Kynetec to bring you regular updates based on collated worm egg count (WEC) data from samples submitted via FEKPAC machines. The October dataset contained nearly 700 WECs from submissions spread across Australia.
Our new Worm Intensity Heat Map is based on the average WEC for each region. Currently, green is <100, orange is 100-250, light red is 250-500 and dark red is >500.
Sheep most at risk are those in endemic barber’s pole regions, especially central and northern NSW. On the New England Tablelands and North-Western Slopes, 39% of worm egg counts (WECs) have an egg count greater than 500 eggs per gram (epg). In central NSW, 33% of samples submitted had a WEC above 500 epg. Counts in September were also high across the region, indicating that some pastures may already have significant contamination.
This is a clear indication that barber’s pole worm season has well and truly started and farmers should remain vigilant and monitor stock closely. Worm egg counts above 1000 epg are associated with higher rates of mortality.
In Western Victoria, the median WEC is in the 1-250 range, however a few samples have returned above 1000 epg. The overall WEC average has reduced since September. Lower than average rainfall has been recorded in the region for the past 2 months.
The 1st summer drench should be planned to help reduce contamination of pastures over summer. Remember that summer contamination contributes to autumn worm problems. Treat if WECs are greater than 100 epg and monitor over summer to see if a second summer drench is required.
With most of the region still having received very much below the average rainfall, WECs have become lower overall in the west with only 20% of samples returning a WEC greater than 250 epg. However, 80% of WECs indicated a positive WEC. Hoggets and weaners still require a summer drench in WA.
We hope you find these updates valuable. As more data is submitted, our ability to comment on worm challenge across smaller regions will improve. Let us know if you think these updates will be valuable and what else you would like to see. And get those samples submitted!
