We’re always pleased when farmers ask, “Should I drench my young stock onto winter crop?”, rather than just reaching for the drench gun.
First – the paddock
A paddock that is 100% crop, fence to fence, with no gullies or unworked knobs, will only host worms if there’s grass in the crop. Any rough areas provide a great environment for parasites to thrive. However, if the paddock has been ungrazed for many months, parasite levels may be lower. Though this isn’t always the case, as with grazing practices changing, many lambs are now being put onto crop earlier.
Next – the animals
A high worm burden can add additional stress to a feed change. Consider where the animals have been grazing in the weeks since their last drench. If they were on a paddock with a low larval challenge, they may have a low burden, and vice versa. Keep in mind that drenching only removes the current worm burden. A faecal egg count (FEC) can be a helpful tool in making the right decision.
We’re always happy to discuss this with you. We are passionate about ensuring drench is used only when needed to protect its long-term effectiveness on your farm.
