[Hillview Farm]

Just had a FEC done by Mole valley farmers and to say the least I'm a little disappointed as they provide very little advice as to what  should be done. I am a little unsure whether the strongyle is high or just a small amount? Can someone tell me what I should do? And if wormer is needed, what?

The results:

strongyle 200

nematodirus <50

coccidial oocysts <50

Advice: low infection

[Tim W]

Translating your FEC results into an action plan is not straight forward and depends on quite a few variables;

1) Age of stock being tested---your/immature lambs will be more susceptible to worms and be able to put up with a low worm burden---mature adults should not really need worming at all
2) Time of year----cold/frosty/dry weather will mean that the worm burden is reducing
3) Condition of animals--animals in good health and on a rising plain of nutrition will be able to cope with a higher worm burden
4) Availability of clean grazing---if you can move animals onto uncontaminated ground then they may not need worming or will cope with higher worm burdens

<50 usually means 1 or less eggs counted so don't worry about the nemo.
200 strongyle would be a low count at most times of year

A total count of 250 EPG-----the common advice is to consider worming lambs when the count is 300/350EPG but much of the time this is not actually needed---I sometimes wait until 800EPG or more, if the animals are in good health and have plenty of grub ahead of them.
A high count of 800 EPG will severely reduce growth rate in lambs but I am sometimes happy to allow this as I want a high count for individual animals monitoring so I can select the special animals with very low FEC for breeding for resistance

It's not a staright forward science but with 250epg I wouldn't worry too much

[Hillview Farm]

Thank you Tim

I was rather annoyed as I sent them two samples my current ewes and our new ewes and they seem to have just thrown them all in together  the new ewes are in a shed away from the current ewes and I wanted to see if I needed to worm or not before they go in with my ewes!

[Bramblecot]

I think they will do a pooled sample for 1 test kit.  If you wanted seperate tests you have to buy 2 kits and send them seperately - at least that is how I read their blurb!  My results were ok but said - consult your vet.  Maybe I'll just do that next time... but it is over twice the price.

[Hillview Farm]

I did buy two but posted them together! my Vet charges £48 per FEC!!

[Tim W]

I did buy two but posted them together! my Vet charges £48 per FEC!!

You can buy a microscope for £80 and a slide for £20 then you are away.
It isn't rocket science, you just mix up the sample and count the eggs
I have all the info and instructions if you want it

[mowhaugh]

I keep meaning to do that, but haven't got round to it yet, but in the meantime we use Westgate, they have a great service and you can always talk to someone knowledgeable on the phone.

[Tim W]

The beauty of having your own kit is that you can gather a mob of lambs , take a sample and 10 mins later know if you want to treat them or not

[Bramblecot]

Tim W, I would like to have a go at that.  Could you pm or e-mail  the details please.  Thanks.

[Tim W]

Here's some of the files you will need

[Tim W]

That didn't work as I planned!

Will try pm-ing the details

[Bramblecot]

I can read that Tim.  Ta v. much.

[Tim W]

There were meant to be 4 pics and a word doc 

[Me]

You can buy a microscope for £80 and a slide for £20 then you are away.
It isn't rocket science, you just mix up the sample and count the eggs
I have all the info and instructions if you want it
[/quote]

Hey Tim, where can I pick up a slide for £20? I paid £100 for a McMaster slide! Which I hope will out last me but when the inevitable happens and I drop it, the dog eats it etc etc £20 sounds more reasonable. Cheers, Me

[Me]

I did buy two but posted them together! my Vet charges £48 per FEC!!

Jesus, I used to do them for a tenner and farmers nearly fell over with the shock of the price!