UMaine Cooperative Extension Offers “FAMACHA” Training for Goat and Sheep Producers
Contact: Richard Brzozowski, 800-287-1471 (in Maine), rbrz@umext.maine.edu
BRUNSWICK, Me.–University of Maine Cooperative Extension has scheduled a FAMACHA training for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at Crystal Spring Farm, 277 Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick. FAMACHA is a fairly new method of determining internal parasite pressure on individual sheep and goats by scoring eyelid blood color. Dr. Tom Settlemire, professor emeritus of Bowdoin College, will lead the workshop with UMaine Extension Educator Richard Brzozowski.
“Proper training is crucial before practicing this on-farm monitoring of parasite pressure,” Brzozowski says. FAMACHA was developed in South Africa to help control H. contortus (barber pole worm) in sheep and goats, and is specific to this parasite.
The cost of this hands-on workshop is $25 per farm; space limits this training to 25 farms. Participants will receive training, printed information, and a FAMACHA color score card. To register for the course, please send a check for $25 (made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension) to FAMACHA Training — UMaine Cooperative Extension, PO Box 9300, Portland, ME 04104-9300. For more information, please call 800-287-1471 or e-mail rbrz@umext.maine.edu.