[shep53]

The test for fluke is by faecal egg count or via a blood sample you need to speak to your vet.When you dose your ewes by weight dont under estimate , from the pics could be 80+kgs

[andywalt]

thats a 10ml dose if I can remember rightly maybe I should do a 12ml to make sure....

when gathering poo for an egg count, whats the proceedure? as you can take some fresh smarties from the field but some may have worms and some may not? or if there are worms will all the sheep definatley all have them so gives an overall avearge mean?

how does it work?

[Anke]

I just take as many little bits from as many bigger heaps (the freshest looking ones), until I have enough. I usually also do two samples. For fluke I treat all ewes, as most of mine have come from one place, and they came with it.... but I do have wet ground(just flooded recently again) right next to the river.

If you have a few of your ewes in pens, take samples of them, then some more from the ones outside. The vet will also advise. And empty margarine cartons (cleaned of course) are fine.

[andywalt]

How many cartons would you fill?

[shep53]

I use an old soup spoon and take a spoonfull from anything steaming and collect about a cupfull , mix it together for an ave sample.

[Anke]

I normally take in two sample pots for about 15 ewes. Just evens out the results a bit. For any ewe that looks dirty around her bum/or otherwise not well and worms are suspected, pen for a wee while in a clean spot (or bring inside), and then take individual sample.

[andywalt]

so can you see them yourself? or do the vets have to look under a microoscope? I have often looked but just see a solid dark brown colour!!