Grazing management for worm control?

[Dry Rot]

A few years ago I bred pedigree sheep and as the pedigree sheep game goes, it took off. As a result, I got over stocked and the land became what they call sheep sick. Basically, there was a built up of parasites.

I've been a bit neurotic about worm control ever since! I have nine ponies on 25 acres and do poo pick regularly with a Predator machine. But it is a lot of work and expensive in time and petrol. So I also harrow and, of course, worm the ponies, also do my own FECs. But managing grazing between age groups can be difficult.

I'm wondering just how effective harrowing is, because it's a lot cheaper and quicker than poo picking! I'm really looking for factual information -- opinions I can get by the cart load (all different!). I am assuming the worm eggs survive in lumps of dung to hatch in warm moist weather. That makes sense. Also, that breaking up the lumps will help sunlight dry out and kill the larvae. I've also read that in long grass, the larvae wear themselves out (poor little dears!) climbing up and down the grass stems in varying conditions in their attempts to get eaten by a new host. But are their any definitive studies on the Net I can read? Are there any parasitologists on here? How long should harrowed fields be left before they are safe? Yes, I know it's a bit of a "How long is a piece of string" question, but I'd appreciate advice! (Even informed opinion would be nice, too!).

 

[lizness]

I work at a vets and am interested in worms and worming. It seems to be recommended by proffesionals that harrowing must go hand in hand with resting. Resting length recommendation seems to be 3 months minimum. Harrowing alone should work in theory but not in England, apparently it needs 25C temp over a length of time, unlikely in previous summers and def not this one! Also you mention sheep (aka biological hoovers) if you still have them they can help break the worms life cycle as the majority of horse worms cannot survive in sheep, therefore sheep eat worms ends life cycle.

Although not hard and fast info this is what i have come across from SPQ's, vets and articles from veterinary journals!

 

[Dry Rot]

Yes, I have had sheep but they are not quite what a city friend imagined them to be -- "I don't know why you make such a fuss, surely you only have to walk around once a day and count them?"

I am actually planning to buy 20 - 30 weaned lambs to winter as I think this is probably the most trouble free way of owning sheep. I can always sell them off as stores if I get fed up with them.

Just read on another thread that the way to go is regular FECs which sounds sensible. I have all the kit here, it's just laziness that's stopping me! That thread discusses 3 horses on 7 acres, so similar stocking rates per acre as here.