FEC (faecal egg count) testing is the method for determining the number of internal parasite eggs in a poo sample. We use FECs to assess the burden of roundworms in a cattle herd and to determine if deworming, otherwise known as drenching, is needed.
A few months ago West Coast Vets acquired a Parasight machine that allows us to do a FEC in-clinic in just a few minutes. We have previously had to send samples away to Christchurch, or spend a long time preparing and then manually counting the samples!
We can test FEC samples prior to drenching and we can also do post-drench checks.
What FECs are useful for:
They show if a parasite burden is present and give an indication of how substantial it is – FECs are reported as the number of eggs per gram (epg) of manure.
They identify the types of worms present, which can guide us to which deworming product will be the most suitable depending on the type of gastrointestinal parasites affecting the cattle.
They can help determine if the anthelmintic drugs in the deworming product you’ve been using are effective or if parasites have developed resistance to the drugs.
Factors that affect FECs:
Age of cattle and recent stress events.
Type of worms present and length of time cattle have been exposed to worm larvae.
Immunity developed against parasites.
Using this tool, we can monitor your worm control programme, with the aim of ultimately reducing drenching frequency, or avoiding using the wrong drug.
Call us if you want to know how many samples you should take and when.
