increase font size
The world’s first sheep worm vaccine.
THE WORLD’S first sheep worm vaccine has been released in Australia.
Barbervax protects against barber’s pole (Haemonchus contortus) giving farmers and vets a drench alternative that will limit drench resistance, says Australia’s Sheep Collaborative Research Center (Sheep CRC).
Decades of research have gone into worm vaccines but to date the only other anti-worm vaccine is against cattle lungworm.
Barbervax was developed by Scotland’s Moredun Research Institute and the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia. It was launched last month in New South Wales. DAF WA’s Albany laboratory makes it and NSW rural retailer GrazAg is selling it.
Sheep CRC says it will be particularly useful where barber’s pole is endemic, where frequent drenching is usually necessary to prevent sheep deaths and where resistance has slashed drench options, such as in the NSW Tablelands.
It’s registered for use in lambs, administered by five 1ml subcutaneous injections at six-week intervals during the barber’s pole risk season.
The developers stress the first two vaccinations do not provide protection, but prime immune systems so six weeks protection is gained from third and subsequent vaccinations.
It’s envisaged initial jabs will be at lamb marking, the second three-five weeks later and the third at weaning, usually with a drench to ensure existing barber’s pole burdens, and other worms such as Trichostrongylus spp (black scour worm), are removed.
Trials show the vaccine provides 75-95% protection against barber’s pole and because pasture worm burdens remain low behind vaccinated mobs, the small percentage of sheep that do not respond to vaccination do not face the worm challenge they otherwise would.
Faecal egg counts are recommended to check barber’s pole burdens when vaccine protection is being established at the second or third injection, and periodically thereafter to ensure low counts are maintained.
Pasture planning to avoid significant barber’s pole intake, and breeding for worm resistant sheep, are also recommended.
Sheep in poor body condition or showing signs of worms may not respond fully to vaccination and may require further support, Sheep CRC warns.
A first run of 300,000 doses, enough for 60,000 lambs, has sold out.
ANYTHING GOOD for Australia is in the long run good for New Zealand. That’s the reaction of Trade Minister Tim Groser to the news that Australia has signed a free trade agreement with China, and to speculation that their FTA with China is better than NZ’s, especially regarding dairy products.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand is seeking global partnerships as it works to revolutionise internal parasite management in the face of increasingly widespread drench resistance.
Dairy farmers in the Australian state of Victoria had a record profitable 2022-23 season, thanks to high milk prices and carefully managed high costs.
A key factor in the dramatic failure of commonly used triple drenches is that these are not effective on 27% of New Zealand sheep farms.
Drench resistance is common.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
