Comparison of faecal strongylate egg counts of goats and sheep on the same pasture

Abstract

Extract

Madam:– During a study of the faecal egg counts of goats and sheep the following two points of interest were noted.

1. Faecal strongylate egg counts of adult Romney sheep (n=9) and adult feral goats (n=l0 initially) grazing together were compared over a six month period from September 1984. They had been grazed together for at least a year prior to the trial commencing. Thirty-five days before the first faecal samples were obtained and again in November and December all goats were drenched with ivermectin * in excess of 200 mcg/ kg. In March, one goat with a faecal egg count of over 1000 eggs per gram (e.p.g.) was also drenched as above. In late February one goat died from undetermined causes. No sheep were treated with an anthelmintic either before or during the trial.