Farm Animal Welfare

Sheep Internal Parasite FAMACHA Screening

FAMACHA eye scoring allows targeted selective treatment of sheep with significant worm burdens, reducing both drug resistance and unnecessary treatment.

Key Facts

FAMACHA scores the conjunctiva against a reference card for anaemia
Only sheep with scores of 3-5 require anthelmintic treatment
Selective treatment preserves refugia and slows resistance development
The system reduces total anthelmintic use by up to 70% in some flocks
Training for farmers is widely available through extension services

Welfare Considerations

Sheep with high worm burdens causing anaemia suffer significantly - weakness, reduced grazing, poor body condition, and ultimately death without treatment. FAMACHA allows targeted treatment of those individuals who genuinely need it, reducing both unnecessary treatment of healthy animals and suffering from untreated heavy burdens.

What You Can Do

Train in FAMACHA scoring if you keep sheep
Implement strategic selective treatment based on FAMACHA and FEC results
Work with a vet to develop an anthelmintic resistance management plan
Advocate for FAMACHA as a sheep welfare and AMR management tool