worm counts?

[siennamum]

So, is there any point in doing worm counts?

I have done them previously, but not for a year or 2 now. I understand that worms are expelled in clumps in the droppings, so you could get one lump of poo with no worms/eggs and another in the same poo with a lot.

In this case are the results valid at all? If this is incorrect please telll me, as I am thinking I may worm count again soon, and wodering how seriously to take the results.

 

[teasle]

I always fill the little pot with poo from several lumps.

 

[siennamum]

Well I have taken bits from a couple of seperate lumps, but the pots are so small I can't see how this is meaningful.

 

[Borderreiver]

The point of doing worm counts is that unless everyone stops using wormers all year when they mostly aren't needed there will soon be nothing left effective when we need it.

Worm eggs are microscopic and only 3 grams of poo is needed for a worm count. All the tests we have done on dung piles show that worm eggs will appear throughout the pile and broadly similar results are found, though I have read some scaremongering about this as you obviously have too. To be as accurate as possible take tiny pinches from different parts of the dung and fill the pot, to exclude air. Air can make the sample deteriorate, but generally samples are good for about a week anyway.

Watch our video about sampling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv0QXe5ybh4

Join us on FB if you need answers to wormy questions and you will be very welcome. Don't forget BVA guidelines on worming say 'Think twice before worming, only worm if the animal has been proved to need it'.