Don't get me started on Faecal egg counts!!! Just remember they are only as good as the technician in the lab is - if they are rubbish at their job, you could end up spending a fortune on the Tests and then endless unnecessary wormers as well. It was when the fifth worm count (over a 3 month period) came back for the same individual with apparently a high enough Trichostrongyle count (after two doses of Zolvix) for my ram to have been on the point of death and the first case of monepantel resistance in the UK, that my vet and myself questioned the accuracy of the test. He was sampled again, Faecal sample sent off to a different lab and the result came back clear.

Because of dodgy readings of the samples, I had gone through Cydectin, Panacur & Zolvix - when the Cydectin had probably done the job fine in the first place. Bear in mind I then had only 7 sheep and the shelf-life of the wormers once opened is limited and the pack size huge. An expensive experience for which I did get some very small compensation for. (they waived two of the test fees and my next was free)
I am trying not to let this experience put me off doing the right thing by FECs. My vet charges me £30 per test - but I usually send off three samples from different animals (0ne from a ewe, one from a shearling and one from the ram )at the same time and that charge is all-inclusive. I haven't done one since December - I routinely wormed my ewes at lambing - and I am contemplating my next move with the lambs, ram & wethers!!
