Barber’s Pole Worm - Livestock Infestation.
Combating the return of Barber’s Pole in Western NSW
Capacity building - LEP 23-021-17
The issue
Climate change and unusual weather in Western NSW have caused a rise in Barber’s Pole worm infestations in livestock. These aggressive, blood-sucking parasites attack the stomach lining of sheep and goats, leading to severe blood loss, anaemia, weakness, and other health issues. The worm is about 2.5 cm long with a red and white spiral appearance, resembling a barber’s pole.
Warm, wet conditions, especially after 10-15mm of rain and daily temperatures above 16-18°C, create ideal breeding grounds. Female worms can lay up to 10,000 eggs per day, which hatch in about three days. Larvae mature inside sheep within three weeks and spread through droppings across the pasture. Clinical signs usually appear 3 to 6 weeks after rainfall.
Eggs and larvae can survive on pasture for up to 35 days in hot, dry weather, and 4 to 6 months in cooler conditions. Due to changing climates, Barber’s Pole worms in some areas now breed year-round, making control more difficult and increasing the risk to sheep.
The solution
Worm test kits are available from your local LLS office. The worm tests come with 10 vials, gloves, submission form, and easy to use instructions for how to test to collect faeces to test for worms.
Preventing the introduction of barber’s pole worms onto your property is vital for keeping your livestock healthy. When bringing new sheep onto your property, follow these steps to reduce the risk:
- Administer a 4-way drench: This will control multiple internal parasites, including barber’s pole worms, and reduce the risk of resistance.
- Quarantine on arrival: Keep new sheep in a separate yard to stop any potential parasites from spreading to other livestock.
- Avoid grazing on "wormy paddocks": Don’t let new arrivals graze in paddocks known to have high parasite loads.
- Check drench effectiveness: Reassess the drench 10-14 days after arrival to ensure the worms have been knocked out.
The impact
Barber’s Pole worm causes severe blood loss in sheep, leading to anaemia, weight loss, poor growth, reduced milk production, and sometimes sudden death. Symptoms include pale gums, eyelids, and ‘bottle jaw’—a swelling under the jaw. Managing the worm is costly, requiring frequent drenching, regular checks like FAMACHA scoring or worm egg counts, and grazing adjustments. Overusing drenches can lead to drench resistance, making control harder over time.