🧬 WHAT IS BARBER POLE WORM?

A blood-sucking roundworm that lives in the abomasum (true stomach) of goats and sheep.

Named for its appearance — red and white striping like a barber pole (the red is blood, the white is its reproductive tract).

Females can lay 5,000–10,000 eggs per day, making infestations spiral fast.

🌱 LIFE CYCLE (WHY IT’S SO HARD TO KILL)
Adult worms in the goat lay eggs, which are passed in feces.

Eggs hatch on pasture into larvae.

Larvae molt into infective L3 stage (within days in warm, moist weather).

Goats eat grass contaminated with L3 larvae.

Worms mature inside the goat and the cycle repeats — sometimes in less than 3 weeks.

⚠️ A single drop in management = a full-blown outbreak.

🩸 SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR
Barber pole worms don’t cause diarrhea. They kill silently by draining blood.

Pale eyelids, gums, or vulva (use the FAMACHA score!)

Bottle jaw – soft swelling under the jaw from low blood protein

Weakness, staggering

Weight loss despite normal appetite

Sudden death (especially in young, heavily infested goats)

🧪 DIAGNOSIS
FAMACHA scoring: Checks anemia by eyelid color (every 1–2 weeks in high season)

Fecal egg counts: Determines parasite load (and resistance)

Necropsy: Adult worms visible in stomach if goat dies

💊 TREATMENT
Dewormers (Anthelmintics)
Use only when needed — targeted treatment prevents resistance.

Three Main Classes:
Benzimidazoles (Valbazen, Safeguard)

Imidazothiazoles (Levasole, Prohibit)

Macrocyclic lactones (Ivomec, Cydectin)

🧬 Resistance is common — always use the right dose (not sheep dose!) and rotate carefully.

📌 Many goat owners now use Cydectin injectable orally for better results — talk to your vet.

⚔️ NATURAL & SUPPORTIVE CARE
Copper boluses (Copasure) — may reduce parasite load

Herbal dewormers (limited evidence, but used in rotation)

Tannin-rich plants like sericea lespedeza or pine bark

Iron/B12 injections for anemic goats

Molasses, red cell, or electrolyte drench to support weak goats

🛡️ PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT
Rotate. Rotate. Rotate.
Pasture rotation every 3–7 days, rest fields 30+ days

Don’t graze under 4 inches — larvae live close to the ground

Separate young, pregnant, and weak goats from high-risk pastures

Monitor Religiously
FAMACHA every 2 weeks during warm season (weekly if outbreak)

Fecals monthly or quarterly to track worm burden

Biosecurity
Quarantine new goats for 30 days

Deworm and run fecals before introducing to herd

🧠 HOT TIPS FOR SURVIVAL
Never blanket deworm your whole herd.

Treat only those with high FAMACHA or fecal counts.

Keep records – track who needed treatment, what worked, and when.

If dewormer fails — suspect resistance. Do a fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT).

😵 REALITY CHECK
Barber pole worm kills strong goats. Fast.

You can be doing everything right and still lose goats — especially in high-risk areas like the Southeast U.S.

But a strong prevention plan, good pasture management, and early detection will save your herd.