Seventy-three percent of 273 sheep and goat farmers responding to a Cornell survey indicated problems with barber pole worm, a major cause of death in small livestock.
To help small livestock producers, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is funding research into alternative methods for controlling the widespread parasite of sheep and goats. Results of the research will be shared at a series of meetings across the region December 3-5.
The Cornell Sheep and Goat Program – Dr. Michael L. Thonney and Dr. tatiana Stanton, Cornell Veterinary Parasitology Lab – Dr. Dwight Bowman and Janice Liotta – are working in coordination with Northern New York Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Livestock Team Leader Betsy Hodge and NNY small livestock producers to are evaluate promising alternative methods for controlling barber pole worm and other internal parasites in sheep and goats.
Haemonchus contortus is a stomach parasite commonly known as barber pole worm. The parasite has become increasingly resistant to traditional anthelmintic – anti-worming – treatments.