Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Internal parasites present a major hurdle for sheep and goat producers, driving up mortality rates and suppressing overall flock productivity across North America. While parasite management includes the use of dewormers, increasing parasite resistance to drug classes has shifted the focus to adopting long-term strategies that includes a genetic component.
To unpack what it will take to get chute-side evaluation of parasite resistance, Lyndsey Smith sat down with Dr. Scott Bowdridge, professor of animal science at West Virginia University, to cover the current realities and future prospects of genetic selection for parasite resistance.
Bowdridge says that while parasite-resistant genetics exist across breeds, identifying those superior animals without over-relying on chemical treatments remains a challenge. "We relied on drugs for way too long to manage this problem for us, and we forgot how to find immunologically-fit livestock," says Bowdridge. He notes that while tools such as fecal egg counts, FAMACHA scoring and selective deworming offer immediate management benefits, the ultimate goal is developing broader selection markers.
Research indicates that selecting for strong immune responses, measured by antibody production following routine vaccinations as a blood test, correlates directly with animals that naturally have lower parasite burdens. Bowdridge says that this approach could eventually offer a simpler path toward breeding disease-resistant stock, but we are not there yet.
Website: realagriculture.com
#farming #sheep #parasites #agriculture
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Internal parasites present a major hurdle for sheep and goat producers, driving up mortality rates and suppressing overall flock productivity across North America. While parasite management includes the use of dewormers, increasing parasite resistance to drug classes has shifted the focus to adopting long-term strategies that includes a genetic component.
To unpack what it will take to get chute-side evaluation of parasite resistance, Lyndsey Smith sat down with Dr. Scott Bowdridge, professor of animal science at West Virginia University, to cover the current realities and future prospects of genetic selection for parasite resistance.
Bowdridge says that while parasite-resistant genetics exist across breeds, identifying those superior animals without over-relying on chemical treatments remains a challenge. "We relied on drugs for way too long to manage this problem for us, and we forgot how to find immunologically-fit livestock," says Bowdridge. He notes that while tools such as fecal egg counts, FAMACHA scoring and selective deworming offer immediate management benefits, the ultimate goal is developing broader selection markers.
Research indicates that selecting for strong immune responses, measured by antibody production following routine vaccinations as a blood test, correlates directly with animals that naturally have lower parasite burdens. Bowdridge says that this approach could eventually offer a simpler path toward breeding disease-resistant stock, but we are not there yet.
Website: realagriculture.com
#farming #sheep #parasites #agriculture
Find us on our other social media platforms:
X/Twitter: twitter.com/realagriculture
Instagram: instagram.com/realagriculture
Facebook: facebook.com/realagmedia
