Dung samples

Muckit

As with soil samples, I suppose it makes sense in these recessionary times.

Does anyone do it regularly? Just it's mentioned a lot in 'the comic'

Would it help a farmer to dose more effectively, ie diagnose, then dose?

Just something that just came into my head. I suppose it only checks rumen and not lungs or liver, or am I wrong??

blue5000

Haven't done it yet, there is a bit more about it over on bff. Sheep men are more into it as they have bigger problems with anthelmintic resistance. The eggs of liver fluke and lungworm are passed out in the dung so they would show up in a faecal eggcount.

rancher

We do it all the time, just dose when the egg count goes high, we've only sheep, really reduces the dosing, sometimes you'd get eight weeks without a dose, really useful when you wonder did a dose really work.
My wife has a science background so she can do it, however anyone that can use a microscope could do it.

greysides

Heard a little about this today. Levels of resistance in Ireland in sheep are not fictional, quite worrying actually. No wormer group is spared. Sampling should become routine, and quick..........and be extended to cattle.
Other headlines....Nematodirus is becoming a year round problem and fluke losing it's usual autumnal seasonality.

Google 'SCOPS' for more modern advice on how to dose and to learn a new word- 'refugia'. Once you know the meaning of that you'll be in big demand for dinner parties................just kidding...............but we'll soon all know about it!