Animal Health Update

Barbers Pole Worm

Under favourable conditions Barbers Pole Worm burdens can build reasonably quickly as the worms have a very high fecundity. Therefore, it is a timely reminder for livestock producers to remain vigilant in their approach to managing this economically detrimental parasite.

Consultation with local animal health advisors is recommended, as best management practices are likely to differ between farms, due to factors such as resistance status and ability to implement preventative management strategies for preserving drench effectiveness, such as the use of the Barbervax vaccine in certain cases.

It's also worth noting that although environmental conditions for survival of Barbers Pole Worm are generally under warm and humid conditions, there are anecdotal reports of changes in the Barbers Pole Worm’s activity over the winter period in parts of Australia. This is likely due to selection pressures in drenching regimes, forcing the worms to hatch at cooler temperatures and complete their development during the winter period with shorter lifecycles.

The “paraboss” website is a good reference point for producers wishing to source current and valid information around parasites effecting their livestock. It is subcategorised into “wormboss”, “flyboss” and “liceboss”. https://www.paraboss.com.au/

Phalaris Disorders

There were a couple of cases of Phalaris induced livestock health issues identified in the local area earlier this year. Therefore, it is a timely reminder to be aware of the risks requiring management when grazing Phalaris pastures into the new year and subsequent autumn. More information can be obtained from a previously posted article here: https://www.rmsag.com.au/articles/2012/phalaris-disorders?rq=phalaris