Parasite ID & Strategic Management Workshop
Parasite ID key to reverse livestock loss due to dewormer resistance
At the Aug. 20 workshop, 20 farmers will practice identifying the parasites in manure samples from their animals. Farmers will go home with evidence-based strategies to manage the parasite load in their animals, and their own compound microscope and fecal flotation kit. (Courtesy image)
WEBSTER, Minn. — Decades of overprescribing and overuse of dewormers in livestock have led to a buildup of dewormer resistance in livestock, rendering many dewormers ineffective. A key component to reversing this financial loss for livestock farmers is to accurately identify the parasites affecting their animals, so the correct management strategies can be applied.
The Wifery Livestock Skills Consortium is offering a workshop on Sunday, August 17 from 10am to 3pm at Unruly Earth Farm, Webster, where farmers can bring up to three manure samples from their livestock and practice preparing the samples using a fecal flotation kit and identifying under microscope what parasite eggs are present in the manure. Following the sample analyses, management strategies will be discussed, including certified organic solutions, use of FAMACHA, pasture rotations, synthetic dewormers, and more.
Workshop participants will receive a compound microscope, a fecal flotation kit, and handouts (value $225) to take home and use on their farms.
The cost of the workshop is $50 and pre-registration and payment is required. Class size is limited to 20 participants, with a minimum of 10. Registration will close August 14. Participants must bring their own food for lunch. Water will be provided as a beverage. A handwashing station and port-a-potty are available onsite.
To register:
Questions can be emailed to [email protected] or call / text Kathy at (507) 664-9446.
“The Wifery project is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2024-38640-42989 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ONC25-176. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”
—Wifery Livestock Skills Consortium
Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association
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