Survey of Endoparasite and Parasite Control Practices by Irish Goat Owners

Abstract

Goat farming is still in its infancy in Ireland. The purpose of this study was to survey goat farmers on their knowledge and current control practices of parasites as well as some information on the specific gastrointestinal parasite fauna of goats in Ireland. The main farming enterprise was cheese (46%) production and the majority of farms (55%) practising a pasture-based grazing system. Anthelmintics was regularly used on all farms with visual appraisal most commonly used (73%) to calculate animal weight. Anthelmintic dose given ranged from the recommended sheep dose (22%) to twice the recommended sheep dose (33%). A variety of different nematode, trematode, cestode and protozoa parasites were detected in the pooled samples. The prevalence of Eimeria spp. was the highest ranging from 79 and 100% in the adult goats and kids, respectively. Prevalence of trematodes ranges from 3 to 17% in adult goats, while none were detected in the kids. Of the gastrointestinal nematodes, strongyle eggs were most prevalent in adult (69%) and kids (42%). This first report on endoparasitic infections of goats in Ireland reveals a high prevalence of endoparasites and that farmers still uses inappropriate and unsustainable parasite control practices, highlighting the need for further education.