Association between FAMACHA scores and fecal egg counts in Katahdin lambs

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dc.contributor.authorNotter, David R.en
dc.contributor.authorBurke, Joan M.en
dc.contributor.authorMiller, James E.en
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, James L. M.en
dc.contributor.departmentAnimal and Poultry Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2020-03-26T13:00:33Zen
dc.date.available2020-03-26T13:00:33Zen
dc.date.issued2017-03en
dc.description.abstractThe FAMACHA system was introduced to the U.S. just over 10 yr ago to allow selective deworming of lambs with anemia associated with Haemonchus contortus and retard the development of anthelmintic resistance. The FAMACHA system was initially developed as a predictor of packed cell volume (PCV), but correlations between FAMACHA and fecal egg counts (FEC) have also been reported. It is important to understand factors that influence FAMACHA scores among farms to improve management of gastrointestinal nematodes. The objectives of this study were therefore to quantify associations between FAMACHA scores, FEC, BW, and age in Katahdin lambs at 2 different measurement times in 8 flocks in the eastern U.S., and to assess consistency of relationships between FAMACHA and FEC among flocks. Data came from 1,644 Katahdin lambs from 7 flocks sampled at approximately 90 d of age, and 1,295 lambs from 6 flocks sampled at approximately 120 d of age over a 5 yr period. Residual correlations among log-transformed FEC (LFEC), FAMACHA scores, BW, and lamb ages at each measurement time were determined. Repeatability of each variable was also determined as residual correlations among repeated measures. At both 90 and 120 d of age, correlations of FAMACHA scores with LFEC and BW were significant (P < 0.001), but numerically modest (0.25 and -0.16, respectively at 90 d; 0.31 and -0.16, respectively at 120 d), demonstrating that higher FAMACHA scores were associated with higher FEC and more likely to be observed in lighter lambs. A small negative correlation was observed between FAMACHA score and lamb age (r = -0.05, P = 0.05, 90 d; r = -0.11, P < 0.001, 120 d) indicating that younger lambs were more likely to have elevated FAMACHA scores. Thus, younger and lighter lambs will likely be more susceptible to parasitism and may need to be managed more diligently than older or heavier lambs. In addition, FAMACHA scores have potential to improve breeding value estimates in programs designed to genetically improve parasite resistance.en
dc.description.adminPublic domain – authored by a U.S. government employeeen
dc.description.notesSupported by Southern Region SARE (Project No. OS09-045), and USDA NIFA Organic Research and Education Initiative (Project No. 2010-51300-21641).en
dc.description.sponsorshipSouthern Region SARE [OS09-045]; USDA NIFA Organic Research and Education Initiative [2010-51300-21641]en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016.1248en
dc.identifier.eissn1525-3163en
dc.identifier.issn0021-8812en
dc.identifier.issue3en
dc.identifier.pmid28380511en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/97487en
dc.identifier.volume95en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCC0 1.0 Universalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/en
dc.subjectFAMACHAen
dc.subjectgastrointestinal nematodesen
dc.subjectHaemonchus contortusen
dc.subjectsheepen
dc.titleAssociation between FAMACHA scores and fecal egg counts in Katahdin lambsen
dc.title.serialJournal of Animal Scienceen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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