On-Farm Studies of Innovative Methods to Control Worms in Sheep & Goats Sponsored by: Federal Formula Funds NESARE Northern NY Ag Development Project USDA Organic Research and Extension Initiative
Tested: 1. the effectiveness of dosing sheep and goats with copper oxide wire particles (COWP) to control Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm), 2. whether establishing and grazing birdsfoot trefoil pastures has potential to control barber pole worm and other round worms, and 3. whether ivermectin should be included in the arsenal of treatments of animals infected with deer-worm.
Copper toxicity in sheep Sheep are ten times more susceptible to copper toxicity than cattle. When consumed over a long period of time, excess copper is stored in the liver. No damage occurs until a toxic level is reached hemolytic crisis with destruction of red blood cells. Copper is closely related to molybdenum, and copper toxicity occurs when the dietary ratio of copper to molybdenum increases about 6-10:1. Affected animals suddenly go off feed and become weak. Mucous membranes and white skin turn yellowish brown color. Urine red-brown color due to hemoglobin in the urine.
Copper Oxide Wire Particles Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) were developed as a slow release source of copper for cattle on copper deficient soils. COWP particles are retained in the abomasum long enough to permit acid solubilization of the copper. Results in gradual release of copper which reduces risk of copper toxicity.
ATTRA Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles
Copper Oxide Wire Particles COWP boluses (Copasure ) available commercially and already approved by organic certification associations because of their role in copper supplementation. 12.5 and 25 gram boluses for calves and cows need to be repackaged into far smaller doses suitable for growing sheep and goats! ATTRA Tools for Managing Internal Parasites in Small Ruminants: Copper Wire Particles
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Copper Oxide Wire Particles Effective against Barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) and not thought to be effective against arrested worms. What time of year best to give? Not effective against Brown stomach worm, not effective against tapeworms.
Brown Stomach Worm (Ostertagia) Used to be considered most serious parasite of sheep in cool climates Worm develops in gastric glands of stomach (abomasum) and destroys the glands as they grow Affects appetite, digestion and nutrient utilization Clinical signs diarrhea, reduced appetite, weight loss
Haemonchus contortus The Barber Pole Worm A blood-sucking parasite that pierces the mucosa of the abomasum (ruminant stomach ), causing blood plasma and protein loss to the sheep or goat. short generation time, heavy egg producer; 5,000-10,000 eggs/worm/day can infest and kill host in 4 weeks Each worm can consume 0.05 ml blood per day Main symptom Anemia
NEW YORK 1 Goat Dairy Treatments consisted of 1 gram COWP/head, 2 gram COWP/head, or 1 gram COWP/22 lb. live weight 15 to 16 lactating does per treatment
Looked for signs of copper problems Sampled milk on Day 0 (immediately before) COWP dosing, Day 14 and Day 42 to analyze for Cu content using plasmaatomic emission spectroscopy Cheese maker reported no changes in time to set curd and consistency of curd for 4 different cheeses made first week immediately following COWP treatments Blood samples taken on Day 42 and the plasma then analyzed for AST enzyme activity ( indicator of copper toxicity)
Changes in Cu Level in Milk after COWP Treatment The increase was significantly more for 1 g/22 lb. LW BUT no significant differences in actual level of CU in milk between Day the 14 treatments Increase Treatment Day 0 Immediately before treatment 1 gram/22 lb livewt. 0.105 ppm (0.042 0.33) 2 gram/head 0.135 ppm (0.056 0.398) 1 gram/head 0.153 ppm (0.043-0.551) 0.171 ppm (0.083 0.322) 0.066 ppm 0.161 ppm (0.103 0.282) 0.026 ppm 0.191 ppm (0.121 0.358) 0.039 ppm
ASP Enzyme Levels in Plasma after COWP Treatment no significant differences between treatments Treatment DAY 42 1 gram/22 lb livewt. 2 gram/head 1 gram/head 117.9 (89 221) 120.6 (76 203) 112.9 (86 138) Copper toxicity elicits enzyme activity values > 300-400 units. Only two goats had values > 200 units.
COWP Effect of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) on the change in fecal egg counts after 14 days. Haemonchus Strongyles 1 g/22 lb. BW -1153-1185 2 g/doe -1226-1191 1 g/doe 107 75 SE 484.6 477.9 P-value for 1 g/head vs average of 1 g/22 lb. and 2 g/head P-value for 1 g/22 lb. vs 2 g/head 0.034 0.036 0.914 0.993 NNY ADP
St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm 40 lambs 20 ewe lambs 4 control 8 given COWP 2 wks pre-weaning 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g 8 given COWP 2 wks post-weaning 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g 20 ram lambs 4 control 8 given COWP 2 wks pre-weaning 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g 8 given COWP 2 wks post-weaning 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g NNY ADP
St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm Strongyle Haemonchus Geometric Geometric Weight, COWP FAMACHA Ln (+1) mean Ln (+1) mean lb. Administration Control 2.5 8.05 3121 7.85 2573 56 Pre-weaning 0.5 g 2.2 6.28 534 5.33 206 53 1 g 2.2 6.42 613 5.44 230 55 Post-weaning 0.5 g 1.9 6.72 830 5.86 350 54 1 g 2.2 6.73 835 5.95 385 56 SEM 0.18 0.29 0.37 2.2 P-value 0.323 0.001 <0.001 0.822 NNY ADP
St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm Barberpole eggs/g feces 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 COWP 0.5g Post 0.5g Pre 1g Post 1g Pre Control 7/7/2014 7/21/2014 8/4/2014 Date NNY ADP 8/18/2014 9/1/2014
Thousand Island Goat Farm 24 kids 8 controls, 8 got 0.5 g COWP, 8 got 1 g COWP 12 doe kids self weaning 4 control 8 given COWP at start 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g 12 buck kids 4 control 8 given COWP at start 4 given 0.5 g 4 given 1 g NNY ADP
Thousand Island Goat Farm Strongyle Haemonchus Geometric Geometric TIGF FAMACHA Ln (+1) mean Ln (+1) mean Weight, lb COWP Control 2.0 7.48 1765 7.45 1720 48 0.5 g 2.2 7.19 1322 7.15 1279 50 1 g 2.2 6.89 980 6.82 912 81 SEM 0.10 0.33 0.33 2.7 P-value 0.598 0.461 0.407 0.729 Sex Bucks 2.2 7.14 1256 7.09 1195 53 Does 2.1 7.23 1382 7.19 1331 46 SEM 0.08 0.27 0.27 2.2 P-value 0.476 0.803 0.778 0.061 COWP x Sex interaction P-value 0.314 0.032 0.030 0.300 Date 8-Jul 1.9 5.81 335 5.77 322 45 5-Aug 2.3 8.12 3361 8.06 3153 55 SEM 0.08 0.12 0.12 0.2 P-value 0.012 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 COWP x Date interaction P-value 0.533 0.702 0.760 0.271 Sex x Date interaction P-value 0.82 0.512 0.526 0.056 COWP x Sex x Date interactionp-value 0.807 0.005 0.005 0.271 NNY ADP
Thousand Island Goat Farm Bucks Does Haemonchus eggs/g feces 4000 3000 2000 1000 COWP 0.5g 1g CONTROL Haemonchus eggs/g feces 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 COWP 0.5g 1g CONTROL 0 7/8/2014 7/22/2014 Date 8/5/2014 0 7/8/2014 7/22/2014 Date 8/5/2014 NNY ADP
Study with lactating Clun and Romney Ewes. Table 1. Effect of copper oxide wire particle (COWP) dosage, breed, and date on FAMACHA scores and fecal egg counts a. Ln (Eggs+1)/g feces Antilog of means Effect Level FAMACHA Strongyles Haemonchus Strongyles Haemonchus COWP Control 2.6 6.00 5.37 401 214 1 g 2.3 5.46 4.71 235 111 Breed 2 g 2.4 5.94 4.46 381 86 SE 0.16 0.55 0.73 P-value 0.463 0.762 0.660 Clun Forest 2.3 5.15 4.29 173 73 Date Other 2.6 6.45 5.40 630 220 SE 013 0.45 0.59 P-value 0.094 0.059 0.207 6/30/2014 2.4 6.32 5.69 558 297 7/14/2014 2.4 5.61 4.74 272 115 7/28/2014 2.5 5.47 4.10 237 60 SE 0.10 0.30 0.29 P-value 0.802 0.115 0.002 a No interactions were significant.
NNY ADP Dorset X lambs at the Cornell Univ. Sheep Farm
Barber Pole Worm Egg County By Treatment in Boer goat kids where COWP was administered 2 weeks pre-weaning 5000 4500 4000 Barber Pole Worm eggs per gram 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 6/16/2015 6/30/2015 7/14/2015 7/28/2015 Control 0.5 g/head 1 g/head 1.5 g/head NNY ADP
Copper Oxide Wire Particles Researchers in SE US who have studied it the most recommend using it in combination with FAMACHA give COWP to your vulnerable 3s (lambs, kids, lactating or late pregnant females) rather than giving a commercial dewormer. Follow up with regular FAMACHA scoring, fecal egg sampling, to see if it is helping.
Conclusions thus far Not as effective as a dewormer (assuming there is no resistance to the dewormer). Does not seem to work at all in some farms/flocks? Diarrhea, diet, timing of infection, acidity of true stomach we don t know why No discarding of milk necessary
Conclusions On farms where it works,.5 gram per head dosages appears to be as effective as 1 gram per head for lambs. Studies on higher levels may be warranted on goat kids? On adult sheep and goats -2 grams per head appeared to work as well as 1 gram per 22 lb. live weight and did not significantly increase the copper levels in milk Need more studies to identify why the effect differs so much between farms.