Farm life

farm life May

On the Smallholding

SUMMER WILL HOPEFULLY BRING NUTRITIOUS VEGETATION TO FEED OUR ANIMALS AND THEIR YOUNG. IT WILL ALSO FAVOUR ALL KINDS OF PARASITES, WHICH ARE A GREAT RISK TO THEIR HEALTH

Internal parasites are the most common serious threat. Sheep and goats pick up the larvae of gastrointestinal roundworms (vers (m), strongles (m)) when grazing plants close to the ground. Worms reproduce in the animal’s gut, then distribute their eggs through dung. Larvae hatch in damp weather and are ingested during grazing. In this way, animals can continue to reinfect themselves very rapidly. A long dry or frozen spell can kill off larvae, but these are unlikely to be long enough in our region. The time it takes for larvae to hatch and die is variable according to conditions. Some experts recommend allowing each pasture to rest for six weeks, but this is unlikely to be long enough in our damp temperate climate. If you have horses, cows, or donkeys, you could alternate their grazing with sheep or goats. Sheep and goats share parasites, so should not use the same pasture. However, cattle and equines are not susceptible to the same roundworms as sheep and goats, so alternating these species can clear pastures of each other’s parasites. In any case, the land must still rest once grass cover is reduced to ten centimetres to allow regrowth and longterm soil maintenance. It is best to set up a rotation of your pastures. For a smallholding, four pastures can be enough for a small herd. All grazing animals host parasites. That is inevitable. They only become a problem when the animal becomes overwhelmed with a heavy worm burden. Animals vary in their vulnerability: lambs and kids are highly susceptible and should be introduced to a clean pasture, preferably not used since last spring. Sheep build a resistance as they mature, but goats do not. This is because sheep have evolved to close-crop grass, where larvae reside, while goats naturally focus on higher foliage (trees, bushes, brambles), and so avoid larvae, which do not climb more than about six centimetres. Goats kept on grass adapt their habits to graze lower than they would in the wild. Consequently, mature goats also tend to suffer from worm burdens, and have traditionally been wormed with veterinary products very regularly. Unfortunately, this practice has resulted in parasites becoming resistant to products licensed for goats and sheep. Current thinking is that worming products, such as Panacur and Albendazole, should be used minimally and only for the most vulnerable animals, so that resistance doesn’t continue to evolve and dominate the parasite population. If all animals are wormed, only resistant parasites will remain, and we will have no medication to fight them with when animals are sick. If tolerant animals are carrying a wide variety of worms, then resistant worms have no advantage over susceptible ones and will remain a minority. Then, when we need to help a sick animal, the medication will clear the susceptible ones out. So, we are basically helping susceptible worms to outcompete the resistant ones. Indiscriminate use of worming products and using too little per treatment are the main causes of resistance in parasites. So when you suspect a worm infection, take a sample of fresh droppings to the vet for an egg test (une coproscopie). The vet will tell you if you need to treat your animal. Make sure you know the correct weight of the animal you will treat so your vet can calculate the dose. You may also want to worm a section of your animals that you think are vulnerable (e.g. those who are going to give birth, the elderly). For this group, dose at the weight of the heaviest animal. Try not to de-worm more than a quarter of the flock and only once a year, if possible. Remember that pharmaceutical wormers also kill soil invertebrates, so their use is detrimental to the ecosystem.

Goats kept on grass adapt Poultry are also susceptible to parasites,their habits to graze lower so it is important for runs to be regularly than they would in the wild changed to fresh ground, or let them free-range if you can. Feeders and water bowls need to be kept clean of droppings. In any case, your best line of defence is pasture rotation to ensure healthy and well-fed animals.

By Tamsin Cooper

Tamsin Cooper is a smallholder and writer with a keen interest in animal behaviour and welfare www.goatwriter.com