Accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by sheep and goat producers in the southeastern United States.
Vet Parasitol
; 147(1-2): 89-95, 2007 Jun 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17482368
ABSTRACT
FAMACHA is a practical on-farm system designed to provide small ruminant producers a tool for improving their management of Haemonchus contortus infections. Although this system has become very popular and widely accepted by small ruminant producers in many regions of the southern United States, there is very limited data reported on the effectiveness of the FAMACHA system when performed by farmers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the FAMACHA system for on-farm use by small ruminant producers during the summer season. Small ruminant producers from Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, and Puerto Rico were trained to use the FAMACHA system by veterinarians and scientists experienced with this method. FAMACHA scores were assigned at least every 2 weeks by producers to weaned and mature sheep (n=552) and goats (n=676) of various breeds and ages between April and September 2004. At intervals that varied among farms from 2 to 8 weeks, researchers determined body condition scores (BCS; 1=thin and 5=fat) and collected blood and feces from a group of animals selected randomly to determine packed cell volume (PCV) and fecal egg counts (FEC). Two separate anemia thresholds were evaluated; these were defined by either FAMACHA score (>or=3 versus >or=4) or PCV (
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Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sheep Diseases
/
Goat Diseases
/
Haemonchiasis
/
Haemonchus
/
Animal Husbandry
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Year:
2007
Type:
Article