Anthelmintics are products that kill gastro-intestinal worms. Here we will describe them as drenches, regardless of whether given orally or by injection.
The range of products registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for treating goats is much smaller than those for sheep. There are even fewer for dairy goats.
Goats metabolize some drenches more rapidly than sheep and hence goats often need a different dose rate than sheep. Unfortunately, many goat breeders only use the sheep drench dose rates and this has led to the development of resistance, which is now very common in many goat herds. However, care must be taken not to overdose animals, especially where weights of animals are only estimated. Some drench actives have relatively low safety margins.
If drenches are misused and result in chemical residues in goat meat and milk products that exceed the Maximum Residue Limits, Australia’s valuable goat-export markets can be jeopardised.
At any time that you use a drench product not registered for goats or at a dose rate different to the rate specified on the label you are legally required to obtain a veterinary prescription.
Your veterinarian is best placed to prescribe the type of drench/es and the appropriate dose rate and withholding periods for your goats, as well as the manner in which it should be used so that it is safe, effective, will keep chemical residues in goat products under the Maximum Residue Limits, and so that its use does not result in rapid development of drench-resistant worms on your property.
Veterinarians can request the latest technical material about goat drenches specifically for veterinarians.
Email us (provide your details, veterinary registration number and request).
Watch the video extract from the ParaBoss Conference 2018 on Goat drenches and doses, presented by Dr Sandra Baxendell.
Below is the list of worm drenches that are registered and commercially available for goats to control worms (as at August, 2016). This may change: always check the label before use.
Table 1. Drenches registered and commercially available for use in goats in Australia, August 2016.
|
DRENCH GROUP AND ACTIVE INGREDIENT
|
Manufacturer |
|
LEVAMISOLE DRENCH GROUP: MORANTEL |
|
|
Virbac |
|
BENZIMIDAZOLE DRENCH GROUP: ALBENDAZOLE |
|
|
Virbac |
|
Coopers |
|
WSD |
|
BENZIMIDAZOLE DRENCH GROUP: FENBENDAZOLE |
|
|
Landmark Operations |
|
Apparent |
|
Coopers |
|
BENZIMIDAZOLE DRENCH GROUP: OXFENDAZOLE |
|
|
Landmark Operations |
|
Virbac |
|
MACROCYCLIC LACTONE DRENCH GROUP: ABAMECTIN |
|
|
Virbac |
|
BENZIMIDAZOLE GROUP (FLUKICIDE): TRICLABENDAZOLE |
|
|
Virbac |
*Caprimec and Panacur 25 are the only products with a milk withdrawal time registered and can be used in dairy goats. The others have this or a similar statement: "Do not use in female sheep or goats which are producing or may in the future produce milk for human consumption".
The following list shows drench actives used in sheep drenches that are NOT available in products registered for use in goats (a common product example is provided in brackets).
If you need to use drenches for worm control in your goats you should
Unless specifically stated, horse and cattle products are generally unsuitable for goats, due to their formulation.
In most states, it is illegal to use anthelmintics not registered for use in goats.
Even in Victoria, where legislation allows for “over the counter” products to be used in minor species (goats), using horse or cattle products is not justified when sheep and goat products with the same actives are available.
If using any anthelmintic NOT registered for goats, a DrenchCheck is essential—WormTest before use and 14 days later, or at a time recommended by your advisor for long acting drenches—to check effectiveness.
See further below for legal use of products not registered for goats.
As these products are sold in individual syringes, they are attractive to hobby goat owners due to their small quantities and convenience. However, while the active may be the same as some sheep drenches, the formulation is different. These products are designed for horses and, especially with pastes, dose rates will be difficult to measure for goats.
Semi-commercial goat producers who also have cattle sometimes want to use pour-on products registered for cattle on their goats due to convenience and because they appear to have higher dose rates. Goats have much less subcutaneous fat than sheep and cattle and this can affect the absorption of pour-on products that must be applied along the back and then absorbed into the fat layer under the skin.
Therefore, pour-on products should not be used on goats.
Research with different pour-ons in goats has found that while worm egg counts were reduced, the worms were not actually killed. Similarly, research overseas has found that the use of pour-ons in goats contributes to the development of drench resistance.
Pour-ons should never be used as an oral drench, as the liquid in which the active ingredient is dissolved is very toxic to the lining of the gut.
There is research on some, but not all sheep drenches and their use in goats. Most are known to be effective on goats, but a different dose rate is required. Read the section below about legal requirements regarding use of drenches that are not registered in goats. Your veterinarian can advise you further.
There are strict regulations about veterinary medicines in Australia. However, veterinarians can prescribe the ‘off-label’ use of some worm drenches not registered for goats. This means that you can get a veterinarian's written and tailored instructions to use certain sheep worm drenches for goats. A veterinary prescription is required for use of all drenches on goats because
While the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is responsible for the registration, label particulars, importation and the regulation of veterinary medicines, including worm drenches, this authority stops at the point of retail sale, i.e. when the product goes across the counter of a rural merchandise store. Then the regulatory responsibility for use of veterinary medicines, such as worm drenches, lies with each state or territory, generally with government departments serving agricultural industries.
Exports of Australian goat meat, worth $243.2 million1 in 2015, could be in jeopardy if chemical residues are found in goat meat products, either by the National Residue Survey conducted by the federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources or by one of the many countries that import Australian goat meat. Findings of the National Residue Survey, which includes results of any residues found in goat meat, are published annually on the web by the department and all overseas buyers can review these findings.
It is particularly important that goats intended for human consumption are not treated with chemicals that could result in excess chemical residue levels in the meat or milk products.
Whilst the vast majority of goats for meat are run in the rangelands of Australia where drenches are infrequently used, it is the larger number of goat owners running smaller number of goats in the moderate to high rainfall areas that are likely to put the goat export market at risk through their misuse of drenches.
While most states have harmonized their regulations, Victoria is slightly different. Victorians can use products sold “over the counter” in retail stores for major species (e.g. cattle and sheep) “off label” in minor species (e.g. goats, and alpacas) in a manner that is not specified on the APVMA label and this includes sheep worm drenches used on goats. However, the Victorian authorities require that this must be done in such a way as to not cause chemical residues in goat products2. It also states that farmers must not use the product at a higher rate than stated on the label. Therefore, to use the product at a higher does rate requires a veterinary prescription.
South Australian legislation considers goats a ‘minor trade species’ and certain cattle products can be used on them, but remember the limitations of cattle pour-on products mentioned above. Again, use at a dose rate different from the label requires a veterinary prescription.
In all states and territories other than Victoria and South Australia, veterinary medicines, including worm drenches, must be used strictly according to the label or according to a veterinary prescription.
Prescriptions must be written and must give details of the worm drench, the dose and the withholding period. If there is a “Do Not Use” statement on the label stating that this product cannot be used in certain circumstances, a veterinarian cannot issue a prescription to override this statement, e.g. Do Not Use in goats whose milk may be used for human consumption.
Veterinarians can only issue these prescriptions if there is a true client–veterinarian relationship and the veterinarian is familiar with your farm and your farm management practices. This normally requires a visit within the last 6–12 months. As veterinarians must give a withholding period for goats on the new label, this requires some extra research and documentation and needs to be discussed with your veterinarian beforehand. Your veterinarian may need to consult with colleagues.
Australia has an on-farm food safety program: the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program, administered by Meat & Livestock Australia. When LPA auditors arrive on properties they will request to see these written prescriptions if any worm drenches have been used that are not registered for use in goats or have been used at a different dose rate from that on the label.
While buying a large drum of worm drench is not convenient if you have only a small number of goats, there are laws preventing reselling or distributing small amounts of drench by people other than veterinarians.
Providing you do not split or repackage the contents (i.e. the contents remain in the original package) you can share the pack with others (each user must thoroughly shake the contents before use and ensure no contamination of contents occurs).
However, unless you are a registered veterinarian, it is illegal to take smaller amounts of product from the original package and repackage them in other bottles or containers.
Registered veterinarians (see section above) can prescribe and repackage a worm drench, but there are strict requirements about the records that the veterinarian must keep, the new container and also how they must relabel the new package e.g. with your name and details, dose rates and withdrawal periods. They can only do this for bona fide clients, with whom they have an ongoing relationship, including a good knowledge of the goats and their management. Veterinarians cannot repackage and sell to someone who is not a regular client.
All goat owners should have a veterinarian with whom they have an ongoing relationship i.e. the veterinarian has visited your farm and knows how you manage your goats. This is essential as eventually you will have an emergency goat health problem and will need a veterinarian’s advice in a hurry. Your veterinarian can also then repackage and sell you small amounts of drench to treat your goats.
Many goat owners want to use natural products on goats but many of these have been shown not to be effective. However, all goat owners have an obligation to seek veterinary attention and treatment if there are serious health issues, such as high worm burdens, in their goats. Treating clinically ill goats with a treatment that is not registered for use in goats and which is known not to work, does not mean that you have met your animal health obligations. Read more about alternative treatments in the MLA document listed below.
1. Australia MLA Australian goat industry summary 2016 (2016) Meat and Livestock Australia.
2. Veterinary chemicals, the law and you (July 2016) Agriculture Victoria website.
Drench Decision Guides
Management tools
Grazing management
Nutritional management
Breeding
Host immunity
The Barbervax vaccine program
Drenches
Drench resistance
Tests
Professional service providers
