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Breeding Out Worms

Farmers face major problems with drench resistance just around the corner, but breeders and researchers alike are hoping to have the answer to the problems before it arrives.

"We've been trying to beat internal parasite problems for centuries, and we've found dry summers, hard winters and ploughing paddocks just don't work, and now drenches are failing us," says Horace Miller, manager of the Wairaki Station in Western Southland.

For the past five years, Miller has been putting in considerable effort into improving host resistance to roundworms in his sheep.

"I firmly believe that it's worthwhile spending the extra time now on breeding up sheep with natural resistance to worms, so I can be prepared for the day drenches don't work on the property."

Since 1990, Millar and other members of the Southern Romney Development Group have measured their recorded flocks for natural resistance to worms using faecal egg counts, selecting superior animals for their breeding programme. Millar also measured lambs in his own commercial flock to determine if they needed drenching.

"Ultimately I'm looking for animals with total resistance, that can still perform in the other production traits."

That perfect animal has not been identified yet, but Miller has been fortunate to have identified a top parasite-resistant, performance-recorded ram, and he's satisfied considerable progress has been made in introducing natural parasite resistance into his flocks.

Screening sheep for resistance has become a routine procedure for the station, and while collecting faecal samples for analysis may not be one of the most enjoyable farm tasks, he's clear about the benefits.

"One day, drench resistance will be a real problem, and I believe the end result could force sheep farmers into dairying -- it's that serious. There are long-term advantages in screening for animals that show natural resistance to worms, and if it means extra work now then I'll do it."