Smarter Parasite Management through Worm Egg counting workshop and FECPAK testing.

When designing the Dung Beetle Soil Health Initiative project, SFCL recognised the importance of advising producers how to minimise the negative effects drenches have on dung beetle survival. As an extension to the Dung Beetle Soil Health Initiative, Southern Forests Community Landcare (SFCL) invited farmers, Landcare groups and other interested groups to a free hands-on workshop that focused on smarter parasite management through worm egg counting (WEC).  This workshop encouraged more sustainable parasite control practices by giving farmers the knowledge to assess pasture contamination, decide when to treat, what to treat with and how to check effectiveness of dewormers whilst avoiding unnecessary financial costs and harm to local soil organisms such as the ‘Dung Beetle’.   

Local sheep producer, Emily Stretch, assisted SFCL’s Katrina Zemke in demonstrating both manual and AI counting of parasitic worms at a workshop on 12th December 2026. Emily is an expert in her field, is Paraboss accredited for FECPAK, has 15+ years’ experience in manual worm egg counting and has a broad knowledge base in sustainable livestock parasite control. With Emily’s guidance farmers learned how to implement WEC systems and thresholds on their farms and translate this information into actionable farm decisions.  

Another highlight of the event was the demonstration of the FECPAK machine, an AI tool designed for more efficient WEC.  An automated WEC tool (FECPAK) and sample subscriptions were purchased by SFCL to support farmers in their decision-making and was demonstrated at the workshop.  Free FECPAK testing of livestock was then offered to those who attended the workshop. 

To date, sixteen FECPAK samples have been analysed for farmers for free by a SFCL project officer.  This opportunity further allowed the project officer to help the farmers make more educated decisions about drenching stock, thus, reducing impacts on the dung beetles. Farmers were very open to the idea of change once it was proven to them that using AI and ‘dung beetle friendly’ drenches can work symbiotically together in a positive way. 

Feedback forms were sent out to participants in the FECPAK program, one response has been received to date and is very positive. SFCL believes that both the workshop and free testing is worthy of continuance on a regular annual basis to build graziers’ trust and uptake of the initiative, thus helping to preserve and grow dung beetle populations. 

Following is an excerpt from an email thread from one farmer who the project officer was testing regularly for to try and get a high parasite burden under control.  It is clear to see that with the aid of SFCLs service, ‘Max’ was able to achieve this outcome and also change his choice of drenching product. 

Thanks Katrina, a big improvement on the Strongyle result, do you think maybe with that Nematodirus result being at 35 now when it was tested at zero 2 weeks ago that it might be a sheep that we didn't get a sample from the first time? Chester took the information sheet with him when he went to get the drench and shopped accordingly for the dung beetles, when I took the first samples I was just starting to see the odd dung beetle then but yesterday when we got cattle in I saw a lot of action, so they are starting to get on the move here. I guess with that in mind we'll just keep an eye out for any individual sheep that might need some more attention but will hold off with any further drenching for now.  

Thanks, Max. 

#livestockhealth #wormeggcounting #fecpaktesting #IPM