Internal parasites are a major health concern confronting Northeast goat herds and sheep flocks. In response to this concern, the Cornell Sheep & Goat Program has collaborated on 3 projects (detailed below) promising new methods of worm control.
- The effectiveness of dosing goats and sheep with copper oxide wire particles (COWP) to control barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus).
Barber pole worm is one of the major causes of death in goats and sheep in the Northeast US. Oral dosing with COWP has reduced barber pole worm populations in goats and sheep in studies in the Southeast and Midwest US. Dosages given must be much smaller than those given to calves to prevent copper toxicity in goats and especially in sheep. Click here to keep abreast of our on-farm trials in New York and current recommendations from the 4 year study. Results have been very variable with COWP being very effective on some NY farms and ineffective on others. - The effect of grazing birdsfoot trefoil pastures on worm populations in weaned lambs and kids.
Grazing the forage legume Sericea lespedeza has reduced worm loads (including barber pole worms) in goats and sheep in the Southeast US. This is thought to be due to its condensed tannins. However, Sericea lespedeza is not winter hardy in New York. Cornell has been part of a multistate project studying whether Birdsfoot trefoil (BFT), another forage legume high in condensed tannins, has the same effect. Click here to find out results from our study with 12 farms planting and grazing BFT. - Two treatment protocols for treating goats and sheep naturally infected with deer worm – Does it help to include ivermectin?
Whitetail deer in the Northeast US are commonly infected with deer worm (also called meningeal worm or P. tenuis). The worm causes no problems in them. However, when goats and sheep become infected with deer worm, the worm can cause severe damage to the central nervous system. Animals may be unable to stand or walk. Some animals spontaneously recover but others do not. Click here for the results from a Cornell study comparing two non-organic treatments for deer worm in naturally infected goats and sheep and from a deer worm challenge study.