Animal health
The FECPAKG2 is easy to use on farm and in the field
tomers want to hear,” argues Mr Brocklehurst.
“It makes sense that regular FEC testing and an informed approach to treating stock will support a more effective worm- ing programme and reduce in- effective wormer usage. That is exactly what the R&D project re- vealed.”
Hefty losses
Some 84% of farmers involved were revealed as using ineffective wormers, resulting in estimated losses of £12 per lamb. If reflect- ed across the flock, this equates to £12,000 per year for the average Sainsbury’s lamb producer. The study assessed the effec-
FionaLovatt and Eurion Thomas
Parasite management boosts health and performance
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ntroducing the latest on-farm technology to manage para- sites could lead to gains of up to £12 per lamb – while also re- ducing reliance on wormers, sug- gests a study.
The Sainsbury’s and Techion collaborative R&D project shows that the targeted use of wormers can improve animal performance by increasing lamb growth rates, while reducing input costs and supporting sustainable worm- ing practices. Sainsbury’s agricultural man- ager for lamb John Brocklehurst told last month’s NSA Sheep 2018 event that the adoption of new technology is critical for producers who want to help deliver a more sustainable lamb supply chain.
A strong, lasting connection
Effective wormers “More accurate control of worm burdens is an area where clear gains can be achieved. The use of innovative technology offers increased lamb output and im- proved animal health and wel- fare alongside cost savings and is a win-win for producers and consumers alike. “Technology that also offers a positive food story on wormer use reduction – akin to the work the industry has done in reducing antibiotic use – is what our cus-
48 ANGLIA FARMER • AUGUST 2018
tiveness of FECPAKG2, the latest in image based faecal egg count (FEC) technology. Results high- lighted undetected wormer re- sistance in sheep could be cost- ing Sainsbury’s lamb producers over £10m per year. Independent sheep specialist
Fiona Lovatt, who was involved in the project, says regular FECPA- KG2 testing has a key role in de- livering an effective worming pro- gramme – and can save farmers money in the process.
Better performance “Farmers involved in the project used FECPAKG2 to conduct reg- ular FEC testing. It showed ac- curate treatment of the right an- imals with the right wormer, at the right time significantly im- proved daily liveweight gains (DLWG), while reducing worm- er use by up to 50%.” Eurion Thomas, European op-
erations manager for Techion UK, said the diagnostics platform of FECPAKG2 meant FEC testing was easy to use and could be car- ried out virtually anywhere by an- yone – including on-farm by the farmer.
“Image based, it provides great- er quality control and auditabili- ty, producing rapid results. This is encouraging more frequent test- ing and better decision making at farm level, both in terms of imme- diate worming decisions and long- term flock health planning.” Mr Thomas added: “Findings
from the project demonstrate how accurate testing and diagnosis can increase farmer profitabili- ty, by maximising animal perfor- mance while reducing treatments. This delivers benefits at both farm and supply chain level.”
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