The increase in rain from the La Niña season this year is breeding more worms, which is harming livestock and production for graziers.
Key points:
- There has been higher numbers in worms across the NSW far west region
- The La Niña season can help contribute to more internal parasites breeding
- Black Scour and Barbers Pole worms are some of them
David Langford and his wife Tegan are graziers on K-tank station, where they manage nearly 5,000 sheep around 30 kilometres from Broken Hill.
They were experiencing a drought for about four years until far west NSW got soaked with rain this year.
“That’s certainly helped our country along a fair bit. It was suffering … so it’s been good,” he said.
But after, Mr Langford found Black Scour and Barbers Pole worms, something he had not seen in the 25 years he has been managing the land.
“It probably took us by surprise a little bit because we haven’t ever really had any worm issues that we know of,” he said.
“Just looking at the stock, they weren’t going very well, they were scouring, they wouldn’t fatten, they just looked a bit lethargic and weren’t in good condition,” Mr Langford said.
After finding out about the worm problem he had to make changes to his sheep’s station program.
“It has brought a significant impact in the fact that our programs change with our sheep all having to re-mate, and we don’t have as many ewes or lambs early on,” Mr Langford said.
“A lot of last year’s lambs didn’t perform as well, and they weren’t able to be saleable earlier,” he said.
Parasites ‘thrive in wet weather’
Mr Langford is not alone, with graziers at risk of internal parasites in the far west and across the country.
Broken Hill Local Land Services District veterinarian Zi Yi Lim said due to the La Niña weather pattern in Australia, it has the potential to increase worm numbers.
“Parasites thrive in wet weather conditions. Water is essential for their continued survival and hence, reproduction,” he said.
Mr Lim found this through doing egg count testing on faeces samples.
“Through faecal egg count results, we have been seeing higher numbers than we had been previously in this region,” he said.
Keep an eye out for worms
Mr Lim advises landholders to do regular worm testing for their livestock before taking measures like drenching.
This includes contacting district or private vets in their area to find out about actions to take.
“In general, people should just be wary of the impact of parasites, particularly in wet conditions,” he said.
“Worms are detrimental to animal health, it causes health losses on the livestock, but also production losses at an enterprise level,” Mr Lim said.
David Langford now has his own worm testing equipment as he continues to deal with his parasite problem.
After his experience, he encourages others to get their livestock tested for worms if they find symptoms.
“If you look at your stock and they’re not quite right, and they’re looking a bit lethargic, and they’ve got the scours, get a test done,” he said.
/ By Youssef Saudie
