A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY OF NEMATODE PARASITE CONTROL PRACTICES ON GOATFARMS IN DENMARK

A questionnaire survey to examine worm control practices on angora and other goat farms in Denmark was undertaken in 1993. Questionnaires we re inserted in the July, 1993 issue of the official journal of the ang ora goat farmers in Denmark (Mohair News) and 72 questionnaires posted directly to other goat farms selected from a list of 150 farms regist ered with the Goat Breeders Association. Data from 51 angora and 41 ot her goat farms indicated that anthelmintics were used on more than 80% of the farms. On 51% of the farms, no predetermined drenching program mes were followed. On 72% and 64% of the farms, kids (< 1 year of age) and adult goats (> 1 year old) were drenched 1-3, and two or three ti mes per year, respectively. Only 9% of the farmers used the recommende d weight of the heaviest animal in a herd to determine anthelmintic do ses for groups of both kids and adult goats, Visual perception which m ay result in underdosing was used to determine weights for drenching o n 41% and 69% of the farms for kids and adult goals, respectively. Fro m 1986 to 1993, Class I anthelmintics (benzimidazoles) were the most c ommonly used. Anthelmintic classes were not alternated annually on the majority of farms, which would enhance selection for resistance, Whil e the majority of farmers (58%) rotated goats regularly between paddoc ks, only 21% drenched the goats when being moved, Anthelmintic treatme nt for newly introduced goats was not carried out on 45% of 55 respond ent farms, nine of which had imported stock, This increases the likeli hood of introducing resistant worms to the farms.