Kiwi farmers are turning the tide on parasites

Words: Mary Bowron, Wormwise

A quiet optimism is spreading across New Zealand as farmers prove they can remain profitable and sustainable while managing an increasing range of drench-resistant parasites.

Farmers are moving away from calendar-based, blanket drenching programmes and embracing smarter, evidence-based parasite management.

Progress is being made across the board, within a wide range of farm systems.

What has been the driving force behind change?

For some, drench resistance is already affecting profitability and change is unavoidable; for others, it is about being proactive and reducing reliance on chemicals.

Current market prices driving positivity in the farming sector may be motivating this shift.

With a favourable season for many, farmers are feeling more confident to try different approaches.

Another influence is the loss of long-acting drench capsules in 2022, forced many farmers to rethink their strategy, especially pre-lamb.

Even with the return of capsules, many farmers found they could successfully farm without them and still maintain a profitable business.

Farmers are being guided by the key Beef + Lamb NZ Wormwise principles summarised in ‘Think Wormwise, think F.A.R.M.ED’, with ‘feeding stock better' and 'avoiding the worms’ as key components of a parasite management toolbox instead of just relying on drench.

Members of Beef + Lamb NZ’s Livestock Parasite Management Groups (LPMGs) include over 80 farmers with a range of farm systems who are proving that change is not only possible but profitable.

After an initial pilot programme in the Wairarapa, the eight groups throughout the country are into their second year, each supported by a specialist vet facilitator to help farmer to farmer learning.

The LPMG framework has resulted in both growth in knowledge and skills to manage parasites and greater confidence to make positive changes.

Having a network of peers to discuss ideas with has given farmers the courage to change farming practices.

In the words of one member: “Hearing others talk about what they have done, not just doing it, gives me confidence to try it. If we weren’t part of the group, I don’t think we would have made the major changes we made.”

Over three-quarters of members are using less drench and being more strategic when it is used.

“None of our changes have been drastic,” one farmer says.

“We simply focused on reducing drench use. This meant doing a lot more FECs (faecal egg counts) and larval cultures to understand the species of parasites present and making our management decisions based on those results.”

Farmers are also making changes without being part of an organised parasite group.

They see the need, don’t want to be left behind and are just getting on with it.

The conversation around parasites has also shifted, with the type of questions and information being sought indicating a better understanding.

Instead of asking about what drench to use and when, farmers are asking things such as how to interpret FECs, how to manage new grass paddocks, how many ewes are needed for refugia in lamb mobs or what is the role of genetics in worm tolerance.

Prioritising ewe condition has been a key factor driving successful change in sheep breeding enterprises.

A well-fed, well-conditioned ewe doesn’t need routine drenching and will produce heavier lambs at weaning.

Bigger lambs, more money and less lamb days on the farm equal a win not only for the bank balance but for decreasing parasite larval challenge.

As one farmer says, “don’t fear fat ewes!”

They are a great tool in the battle against worms.

Setting up a well-fed ‘fat’ ewe flock doesn’t happen overnight; planning needs to start at weaning.

But benefits are numerous and not just related to worms.

Along with improved reproductive performance, better nutrition through pregnancy positively influences the lifetime performance of the offspring.

A better start in life for replacements increases their chance of being in the ewe breeding flock for longer, no matter the sheep breed.

Fine wool farmers, who historically have bred sheep not as robust when it comes to worm tolerance, are cutting back on routine pre-lamb drenching through better feeding.

This has led to other performance changes too.

“Since we've been feeding our ewes better our micron has been crashing to under 18 because the lambs produce a lot more secondary wool follicles in the last part of gestation. But our wool weights have gone up,” notes one of these producers.

Scanning results have been up this year, due to a kinder summer and autumn for most of the country.

Ewes were fatter heading to the ram, which has led to some impressive scanning results across all sheep systems.

Even some fine wool flocks have scanned 170-180% or more.

As one Marlborough farmer points out, “having feed to put condition on ewes is the simple answer to a good scanning result.”

Making these changes is a stepwise process, and often little changes can make a big difference.

Farmers are building their confidence that putting away the drench gun is not going to create parasite chaos.

Farmers making these changes are not a rarity.

They may be the early adopters, but a growing proportion of the industry is moving behind them.

For rural professionals advising farmers on parasite management, expect to be challenged more.

Involve the whole farm system and listen to your clients.

Often farmers will have solutions to parasite problems you haven’t thought about.

Remember that the F.A.R.M.ED principles are a great framework for helping focus farm system conversations around feeding stock well, avoiding parasites, ensuring refugia is present, monitoring to assess where they are at and lastly using an effective drench when needed.

Drench resistance does not mean game over. Turning the tide on parasites is possible.