Western Australia

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Program Summary

The WormBoss worm control program for the Western Australian winter rainfall region has five components that are most effective when used in combination.

Note: an Australia Smallholders Program and an accompanying Drench Decision Guide exists for goat owners who can regularly monitor and treat individual goats.

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

1. Use a strategic drenching program^1,2

• Quarantine drench all introduced goats with an effective short-acting drench that provides (for meat goats) four drench groups including one from either of the most recently available products or (for dairy goats) fenbendazole and abamectin which are registered for use where milk is for human consumption.
• Routinely drench:
  • South-West Medium to High Rainfall Zone
    • Kids at weaning.
    • Young goats in early summer, after the pasture has dried off.
    • Breeding does pre-kidding (as they temporarily lose their immunity).
    • Adult goats in autumn, between the end of March and the end of April.
    • Bucks should be drenched the same as other goats or weaners, depending on age.
    • Drench individual goats showing obvious signs of worm related illness and WormTest the rest. 
  • Low Rainfall Cereal Zone
    • Kids at weaning when moved onto a crop stubble.
    • Young goats in early summer, unless WormTests over some years indicates there is rarely a need.
• And at other times, use the Drench Decision Guide, to make drenching decisions.

2. WormTest at recommended times

• The South-West Medium to High Rainfall Zone
  • Weaners and yearlings.
  • 4–6 weeks after their weaning drench, unless a summer drench is to be given at about that time.
  • 6 weeks after the season’s break, or by the end of June at latest, then 6-weekly until the end of spring.
  • 6-weekly after any drench is given in winter or spring (unless a drench is to be given at about that time).
  • Late-kidding does (mid-June onwards) WormTest 3 weeks before kidding is due to commence.
• Low Rainfall Cereal Zone
  • Adult goats in late March to April.
  • Bucks: at 6–8 week intervals after a short-acting drench and ensure a WormTest occurs one month before joining.
  • If DrenchTest results are not available conduct a DrenchCheck 14 days after treatment.
• And at other non-routine times as suggested in the Drench Decision Guide.

3. 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 before they are needed (for 3 to 4 months from autumn to spring, and 2 months in summer):
  • Spell paddocks for the periods specified above.
  • 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 few worm eggs are passed in dung) of an effective drench¹.
  • Or (not in coastal areas) graze with goats or sheep that have a tested low worm egg count (less than 100 epg).
• Choose the least contaminated kidding paddocks for the most susceptible kidding does (maidens, twin-bearing, or poorer condition).
• Provide adequate browse where possible.

4. 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.     

5. Manage drench resistance                                      

This is an up-to-date, integrated regional worm control program for goats in Western Australia (excluding the rangelands, which has a separate regional control program). It builds upon earlier programs and accumulated knowledge, including from the former Department of Agriculture WormCheck program and the experience of researchers, consultants and advisers, as well as new information from the Integrated Parasite Management in Sheep project, funded by Australian Wool Innovation and ‘Parasite control in southern prime lamb production systems’, funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

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), Brown Besier (Brown Besier Parasitology) and Rob Woodgate (Charles Sturt University).

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 contributions of parasitologists, veterinary officers, extension officers, consultants and organizations that developed the original programs from which the WormBoss programs have been drawn, in particular, the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia are acknowledged.