Qld central and south and NSW northwest

Open complete program (PDF)

Go to the Drench Decision Guide

 

Program summary

The WormBoss worm control program has five components that are most effective when used in combination.

A summary of the components is below (click on the headings below for more information):

1. Use grazing management to create low worm-risk paddocks

• Prepare low worm-risk paddocks for kidding does and weaners by preventing contamination with worm larvae in the 2 to 5 months before they are needed:
  • Spell paddocks
  • Graze with cattle or horses, grow browse, crops, hay or new pastures, or graze with goats or sheep for up to 3 weeks after the protection period (when killing worms) of an effective drench¹.
• Choose the least contaminated kidding paddocks for the most susceptible kidding does (maidens, twin-bearing, or poorer condition).
• Provide adequate browse where possible.

2. Breed and feed for goats that are resistant and resilient to worms

• Use bucks with better than average worm egg count Estimated Breeding Values (WEC EBVs) in KIDPLAN by choosing the more negative values. 
• Maintain good nutrition to enhance the goat’s immunity to worms. 

3. WormTest at recommended times

• Weaners from weaning to shearing or 12 months: every 4–6 weeks (summer) or 6–8 weeks (winter) after a drench
• Does
  • Pre-shearing in fibre goats (can be the pre-kidding test)
  • Does prior to kidding, kid marking and weaning
• From March to October, 4–6 weeks after significant rain (20+ mm) that also has follow-up rain (10+ mm) in the following few weeks

• Bucks: WormTest at 4–6 week (summer) or 6–8 week (winter) intervals after a short-acting drench and ensure a WormTest occurs one month before joining.WormTest more often in high rainfall years and less often in very dry years. However, when goats congregate on smaller areas due to tall thick pastures, heavy rain/flooding or bore drains.
• If DrenchTest results are not available conduct a DrenchCheck 14 days after treatment.
• And at other times as suggested by the Drench Decision Guide

4. Drench^1,2 strategically at recommended times

• Quarantine drench all introduced goats with an effective short-acting drench that provides (for meat goats) four drench groups including one from the most recently available products or (for dairy goats) the two drench groups registered for use where milk is for human consumption_.
• In October/November:
  • If the grass is green and actively growing in these months: All goats should be given an effective drench for barber’s pole worm, scour worms and nodule worm. A prior WormTest will indicate whether a long-acting product could be needed. Note long-acting products are not registered for goats and in most states and territories can only be used “off-label” with a veterinarian’s prescription.  
  • If the grass is brown or not actively growing in these months: Young goats (less than 18 months old) will need an effective short-acting drench against barber’s pole worm, scour worms and nodule worm. WormTest in 4–6 weeks after the drench. 
• Kids at weaning.
• Drench individual goats showing obvious signs of worm-related illness and WormTest the mob. 
• And at other times, use the Drench Decision Guide, and the WormTest.

5. Manage drench resistance 

This is an up-to-date, integrated regional worm control program for goats in the Qld south and NSW northwest region of New South Wales. It builds upon earlier programs (including from the state departments of primary Industries: NSW DPI and Qld DAFF) and accumulated knowledge, as well as new information from the Integrated Parasite Management in Sheep project, funded by Australian Wool Innovation and the Sheep CRC.

The program aims to improve the profitability and welfare of your goats through:

• fewer deaths and illness from worms
• fewer drenches, particularly long-acting drenches
• improved productivity
• prolonged life of drenches

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Authors:

Maxine Lyndal-Murphy (private consultant), Sandra Baxendell (Goat Veterinary Consultancies—goatvetoz), Lewis Kahn (ParaBoss), Deborah Maxwell (ParaBoss), Stephen Love (NSW DPI)

Acknowledgement:

This document is based on the sheep WormBoss regional program with changes supported by the Goat Industry Council of Australia and funded by Meat and Livestock Australia through the project ‘Expansion of WormBoss Website to Include Goats B.GOA.0120’.

The major contribution to this publication from the NSW DPI programs: WormKill and WestWorm and the Qld DAFF program: WormBuster are acknowledged.