A questionnaire study on parasite control practices on UK breeding Thoroughbred studs.

Area of Science:

• Equine Parasitology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Husbandry

Background:

• Effective parasite control in horses is crucial.
• Reducing reliance on chemical treatments necessitates improved education for veterinarians and equine managers.
• Understanding current helminth control practices is essential for developing sustainable strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate current helminth control practices on Thoroughbred studs in the UK.
• To identify awareness of and adherence to best practices for parasite management.
• To assess the prevalence of risk factors associated with anthelmintic resistance.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted on 61 UK Thoroughbred establishments between 2009 and 2010.
• Data collected provided statistical analysis of current helminth control strategies.
• This study represents the first questionnaire-based analysis of Thoroughbred stud practices.

Main Results:

• Despite concerns about anthelmintic resistance, 56% of establishments co-grazed visiting equines with permanent stock, often administering anthelmintics beforehand.
• Frequent macrocyclic lactone (ML) treatments were common, with over 25% moving animals to "clean grazing" post-treatment, indicating a lack of awareness of resistance risk factors.
• Faecal egg count (FEC) analysis was infrequently used, with only 22% considering it beneficial for anthelmintic selection.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant need to shift equine owner/manager practices away from current methods towards strategies that preserve anthelmintic efficacy.
• Veterinarians must play a more active role in implementing control strategies.
• Emphasis should be placed on diagnostic tests for targeted treatments and investigating anthelmintic sensitivity.