Managing Parasites in Sheep and Goats: Prevention and Treatment
Parasite management is a crucial part of keeping our sheep and goats healthy. At Rustic Harvest Homestead, we prioritize proactive strategies to reduce parasite loads, ensuring our animals remain strong and productive. By utilizing methods like rotational grazing, we work to minimize the risk of parasites, but understanding how to identify, prevent, and treat them is just as important.
Here’s a closer look at how we manage parasites on the farm and some practical tips for other hobby farmers and homesteaders.
Understanding Parasites in Sheep and Goats
Sheep and goats are susceptible to a range of parasites, both internal and external. The most common ones include:
Internal parasites: These are usually worms such as Haemonchus contortus (also known as the Barber’s Pole Worm), which can cause anemia, weight loss, and lethargy. In severe cases, they can lead to death.
External parasites: These include lice, mites, and ticks that can cause itching, irritation, and hair loss, leading to reduced productivity and general discomfort.
Parasites can have a significant impact on your livestock’s health, so it’s important to manage them effectively to ensure your animals thrive.
How Rotational Grazing Helps with Parasite Control
One of the most effective ways we reduce parasite load is through rotational grazing. By moving our livestock between paddocks, we break the life cycle of many parasites, especially internal worms.
When sheep and goats graze the same pasture over and over, parasites build up in the soil and feces, and the animals are re-exposed. With rotational grazing, fresh pastures are provided regularly, allowing the animals to avoid areas where parasites are most concentrated.
We also make sure to keep paddocks rested for a while between grazings. This gives the pasture and soil a chance to recover and reduces the parasite population in the environment. However, we do need to be mindful of wet, lush paddocks, particularly during winter. While grass grows fast and strong during this season, it also encourages parasite populations to thrive. This is where rotational grazing becomes even more essential.
For more on how rotational grazing works, check out our Rotational Grazing blog.
Signs of Parasitic Infection in Sheep and Goats
It’s important to stay vigilant and watch for signs that parasites may be affecting your livestock. Here are some early warning signs to look for:
Diarrhea or scouring: This is a common symptom of parasitic infections.
Weight loss: Despite a good appetite, infected animals may lose weight due to nutrient loss caused by parasites.
Pale gums or eyelids: Parasites like the Barber’s Pole Worm can cause anemia, which results in pale membranes.
Poor coat condition: Animals may become dull and patchy as their bodies struggle to cope with parasite burden.
Regular monitoring is key to catching these issues early. We also recommend doing fecal egg counts on a regular basis. This involves collecting samples of manure and testing them for parasite eggs, helping to gauge the level of infection. You can either send samples to a vet or use a DIY fecal test kit to perform this yourself.
Treatment Options for Parasites
If we detect a parasite problem, the next step is treatment. We primarily use dewormers, but we make sure to rotate different classes of dewormers to prevent parasites from developing resistance to a single type.
Deworming: Sheep and goats need regular deworming, especially if they’re showing signs of infection. We use a range of chemical dewormers, but we rotate them every few months to maintain their effectiveness.
Natural treatments: We’re also exploring natural treatments like herbal dewormers, plants that help manage parasite loads, and apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can improve digestion, balance pH levels in the rumen, and may help reduce parasite load over time. It's often added to drinking water (in small amounts) to help support overall health and parasite management.
Always consult with a vet before using any new treatment, especially when considering natural remedies.
Maintaining Healthy Pastures to Reduce Parasites
Preventing parasite infestations isn’t just about treating your animals—it’s also about maintaining clean, healthy pastures. Here’s what we do to keep our pastures parasite-free:
Manure management: After each grazing rotation, we spread out the manure or compost it. This helps prevent the buildup of parasite eggs and larvae in the soil.
Weed control: Many weeds can host parasites, so we make sure to manage weeds by keeping paddocks well-grazed and mowing or pulling up any unwanted plants.
Winter and Wet Seasons: High Parasite Risks
Winter in South Australia presents a unique challenge, as the wet, lush paddocks provide a perfect environment for parasites to thrive. During this time, rotational grazing is even more important to prevent overgrazing and parasite exposure. We aim to keep animals moving to new paddocks regularly, allowing pastures time to rest and reducing parasite buildup in the soil.
Additionally, by using a combination of grazing management and deworming strategies, we help reduce the risks associated with these seasonal challenges.
Pregnancy and Parasite Management
Pregnant sheep and goats require extra care when it comes to nutrition and parasite control. It’s important to ensure they get the right nutrients leading up to lambing or kidding, as well as to keep them parasite-free.
For our pregnant goats and sheep, we increase their grain intake and offer lucerne hay to boost their nutrition. Around two weeks before birthing, we also offer sheep nuts for the sheep and a special goat grain mix for the goats to ensure they have the energy and nutrients they need to carry healthy kids or lambs.
Maintaining a low parasite load during pregnancy is crucial, as parasites can impact the health of the mother and her babies. Regular deworming and careful pasture management are key to this.
Managing parasites is a constant process, but with good practices like rotational grazing, regular monitoring, and thoughtful treatment, we can keep our sheep and goats healthy and happy. By being proactive, we minimize the risk of parasites and create a sustainable environment for our animals and our farm.
For more tips on creating a sustainable grazing system, check out our Rotational Grazing blog.