Drug treatment for lungworm in bighorn sheep: reevaluation of a 20-year-old management prescription
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Published source details
Miller M.W., Vayhinger J.E., Bowden D.C., Roush S.P., Verry T.E., Torres A.N. & Jurgens V.D. (2000) Drug treatment for lungworm in bighorn sheep: reevaluation of a 20-year-old management prescription. Journal of Wildlife Management, 64, 505-512.
Published source details Miller M.W., Vayhinger J.E., Bowden D.C., Roush S.P., Verry T.E., Torres A.N. & Jurgens V.D. (2000) Drug treatment for lungworm in bighorn sheep: reevaluation of a 20-year-old management prescription. Journal of Wildlife Management, 64, 505-512.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use drugs to treat parasites Action Link |
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Provide supplementary food to increase reproduction/survival Action Link |
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Use drugs to treat parasites
A randomized, replicated, controlled study in 1991–1995 in two mountain ranges in Colorado, USA (Miller et al. 2000) found that medical treatment of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis canadensis against lungworm did not increase lamb survival. Average annual recruitment did not differ between herds treated for lungworm (0.5–0.7 lambs/adult female) and untreated herds (0.6–0.7 lambs/adult female). Adult bighorn females of four herds were captured in February–March 1991–1995 and were marked and radio-collared. Between 1991 and 1995 the herds were either fed for 8–10 weeks each winter with 2 kg/individual/day of alfalfa hay and 1 kg/individual/day of apple pulp, fed with alfalfa hay and apple pulp with two treatments of a drug to reduce parasitic worms (Fenbendazole, 3 g/adult female) added to the apple pulp late in the feeding period, given Fenbendazole-treated salt blocks (1.65 g Fenbendazole/kg) from December to April, or not given food or Fenbendazole-treated salt blocks. Treatments were rotated annually under a predetermined, randomly selected scheme. Lamb survival for 11–18 marked adult females/herd was assessed every two weeks between May and October.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
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Provide supplementary food to increase reproduction/survival
A randomized, replicated, controlled study in 1991–1995 in two mountain ranges in Colorado, USA (Miller et al. 2000) found that supplementary winter feeding of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis canadensis did not increase lamb survival. Average annual recruitment did not differ between herds provided with food (0.5–0.7 lambs/adult female) and herds where no food was provided (0.6–0.7 lambs/adult female). Adult bighorn females of four herds were captured in February–March 1991–1995 and were marked and radio-collared. Between 1991 and 1995 the herds were either fed from mid-December for 8–10 weeks with 2 kg/individual/day of alfalfa hay and 1 kg/individual/day of apple pulp, or not given any supplementary food. Each year, one herd under each feeding regime was additionally medicated for lungworm using fenbendazole, while the other was not medicated. Treatments were rotated annually under a predetermined, randomly selected scheme. Lamb survival for 11–18 marked adult females/herd was assessed every two weeks between May and October the following year.
(Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)
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