Rad Nielsen, Veterinary Health Research, Armidale, reports that barbers pole are very active, with some deaths. Most of the problems being experienced are completely preventable:

Many sheep producers in the New England region are currently dealing with a considerable Haemonchus challenge. Deaths are being reported, combined with rapid onset of clinical signs.

In many cases the underlying issue is the use of ineffective drenches. It cannot be assumed for instance that moxidectin works against Barbers Pole Worm given the high rate of recorded resistance (up to one-third of New England properties have moxidectin resistant Haemonchus).

Likewise, levamisole may be less than 100% effective and organophosphate based drenches may leave a large burden of immature Haemonchus remaining post treatment. It is imperative that graziers establish which drenches work (and which don’t) on their property before they can hope to put in place an effective drenching strategy.

Grazing management is equally important, particularly at this time of year when weather conditions are highly favourable for Haemonchus development.

The ability to rotate sheep onto “clean” (or at least “semi-clean”) paddocks (especially after drenching) is vital if you want to prevent worm “crashes” and avoid continuous summer/autumn drenching.

Treating every 3-4 weeks is also not sustainable, both on a personal and drench resistance level.

Elizabeth Braddon, LHPA District Veterinarian, Young, highlights the need to take care when choosing a drench:

Faecal Egg Counts (FECs) have ranged from 0 – 880 epg with an overall average of 324 eggs per gram for the month of January.

In most cases, those flocks that have given a summer drench since November 2009 seem to be holding up well despite the possible pickup of worm activity from the December rains.

If you have not already changed your drench class to a new rotation at the first summer drench, then now is certainly the time to consider rotating to a new class to prevent contributing to drench resistance.

For example, if you have been using a Mectin based drench (eg. Cydectin, Genesis etc) then it would be a good time to consider switching to a White (BZ) or Clear (LEV) based drench or combination (eg. Duocare, Combi, Scanda etc).

You could also potentially add a Naphthalophos drench into the mix as well depending on your property circumstances.

For more information on drench choices, please contact the local LHPA office and speak to one of the District Vets.

Bob Templeton, LHPA District Veterinarian, Braidwood, says recent rains will lead to a spike in worm activity – producers should be conducting worm egg counts:

There has been a lot of rain in the past 10 days. Over 200 mm have fallen. In past years this has always been followed by a dramatic spike in Trichostrongylus and Ostertagia egg counts. Those who have not done so should be doing a WormTest at the end of the month. It could be possible to see a rise in the Haemonchus counts as the autumn progresses especially on the eastern fall.

Those who have already given a second summer drench are advised to submit a WormTest at the end of the first week in March. This should give an accurate picture of the worm situation.

Chris Haylock, LHPA District Veterinarian, Cooma, describes how inadequate management has lead to problems:

Only a few wormtests have been submitted in the Bombala area. Egg counts have been low where good worm control practices are in place, but two higher counts show that worms can still be a threat even under hot and dry conditions.

In one case, sheep had been drenched last with albendazole. An average count of over 400 eggs per gram has been carried through summer, through poor drench choice. Another test averaged 500 eggs per gram in January, in ewes with lambs about to be weaned.

Rain has finally come to the district, so the next month will provide a worm challenge for sheep.

Sufficient pasture growth will hopefully be enough to reduce the risk of disease in grown sheep, but weaners will need to be closely monitored to prevent worms building to significant levels.

Belinda Edmonstone, LHPA District Veterinarian, Forbes, advises worm egg counts to see if a second summer drench is needed:

Faecal Egg Counts have ranged from 0 - 920 for the month of January. The main worm types have been small brown stomach worm and black scour worm.

February is a good month to be doing some Worm Tests to determine if the second summer drench is required.

Jim McDonald, LHPA District Veterinarian, Yass reports ideal conditions for Nematodirus. Regular monitoring is essential:

The Yass District has experienced both good rains through late January and February as well as a hotter than normal [+4 C] January temperatures.

Strongyle egg counts have ranged from a low or 40 – 80 to a top of 320, averaging at around 200 epg.

This is only a little part to the parasite story as we have seen an explosion of Nematodirus eggs in weaner sheep, ranging from 80 epg up to 1000 epg, averaging around 300.

The hot and dry November and December, followed by the wet and hot January and early February have resulted in a short green pick, under a dry sward being available to sheep being ideal conditions for Nematodirus to be picked up in large numbers and develop. The last rain event in mid February will maintain the current high levels of Nematodirus unless early intervention occurs.

Regular worm egg count monitoring is an essential part of managing young stock this autumn.

Bill Johnson, LHPA District Veterinarian, Goulburn, advises monthly worm egg counts to stay ahead of possible worm problems:

Most of the worm egg counts reported for adult sheep this month have been low, leading to a watch and wait approach to the second summer drench. Repeat monitoring at monthly intervals will be required.

Make sure to ask for a culture to be done to keep ahead of any increased barbers pole worm activity.

Significant losses continue to occur from thin-necked intestinal worms in merino weaners despite low egg counts. Post-mortem examination is needed for correct diagnosis. Bacterial infection often takes advantage of the worm-damaged gut, causing scouring to persist after drenching removes the worms.

Katherine Marsh, LHPA District Veterinarian, Condobolin reports worm activity is likely to increase – do regular worm egg counts :

There has been a small number of faecal egg counts carried out with the average being 726 epg.

Some counts have ranged up to 2360 epg, although these have been seen in younger sheep. We are yet to see results as to the worm types from these higher counts.

There have also been some producers who have gone ahead and drenched anyway as their sheep have been showing signs of scours and ill-thrift.

With the wet weather, producers should monitor worms closely over the coming months. For those who received rain in December and January, now would be a good time to be doing some Worm Tests to determine whether you need to drench. With warm conditions, Barber’s Pole could also be an issue making it even more important to consider doing a Worm Test.

Dan Salmon, LHPA District Veterinarian, Deniliquin, reports generally low worm egg counts:

In the southwest of the Riverina Livestock Health and Pest District there has been reasonable throughput of faecal egg counts with mostly very low counts.

There have been a small number of moderate egg counts with no obvious explanation for their occurrence. These include mobs of similar sheep in adjoining paddocks.

Egg counts for Nematodirus spp have been unusually low. They are usually relatively prominent under drought conditions. One mob of unthrifty lambs had moderate Nematodirus burdens on autopsy.

Kylie Greentree, District Veterinarian, Bourke warns of building worm problems following good rains, and in some cases, massive worm egg counts – do worm egg counts:

Worms are on the rise in the Darling Authority, particularly over in the Brewarrina area. The conditions have been very favourable for worms over the last few months with lots of rain and then followed up with hot humid days.

We had one property that had lost approximately five ewes out of a mob of 2000. After PM examination and wormtesting, the strongyle count came back as 68800 and the Nematodirus count came back as 840. The larval differentiation said 86% were Trichostrongylus, 13% Ostertagia and 1% Haemonchus.

Another property in the Enngonia area had lost around one hundred weaners, worms certainly being the main problem with a few other contributing factors such as heavy rains, large number of mosquitoes and sandflies around all occurring just after weaning and shearing.

Worms are not normally a major problem in Western NSW but given the conditions we have had around the Darling authority I would be recommending that producers worm-test. Our worm numbers have certainly been lethal in certain areas!

Greg Curran, District Veterinarian, Broken Hill, says that worms may start becoming a threat in places where they have not been for a long time – do worm egg counts.

We don't often see worm problems in western NSW, so to see epg counts of nearly 70000 and most of them Trichs is worth recording. (See Kylie Greentree’ report)

The rains in the far northwest (Tibooburra) may bring worm problems as well. Relatively few stock there though after a very long dry and the big dust/sand storms.

Ian Masters, LHPA District Veterinarian, Gundagai says some good rain has stimulated worm activity:

Widespread effective summer rainfall has produced a good cover of green feed over most of this district. Most properties are understocked and this combined with good nutrition has offset a lot of worm problems. Conditions now ideal for barbers pole worm and some recent counts are indicating this,(bought in ewes with average count of 1600EPG, 96% haemonchus). Also reports of sudden deaths in sheep on a few properties where barber’s pole has been suspected. Producers are advised to submit samples for FEC’s to monitor the effects of changed seasonal conditions on worm populations.