These blood-feeding parasites, which measure 1.5cm to 2.5cm long, attach themselves to the stomach lining of livestock including sheep, goats, alpacas and cattle, leading to anaemia.
Local Land Services principal program manager animal biosecurity and welfare, Dr Lyndell Stone, stresses that regular testing and integrated control programs are crucial.
“Producers should be doing worm tests to work out how high their worm burdens are,” Dr Stone said.
“Talk to your Local Land Services district veterinarian or private veterinarian about doing a worm test, as they can advise on the timing and type of testing and help interpret the results to guide a treatment and management plan, keeping in mind a long-term strategy is best.”
Dr Stone highlighted successful prevention strategies.
“Proactive producers who have worm tested regularly, understood their property's drench resistance status, used effective drenches only when necessary and utilised the environment to kill larvae, have had low egg counts, which is pleasing.”
Signs of barber's pole worm infection include pale gums and conjunctiva, bottle jaw (fluid collecting under the jaw), lack of stamina, declining body condition and possible stock deaths.
Producers worried about barber's pole worm or unusual symptoms in their livestock can reach their Local Land Services District Veterinarian on 1300 795 299.
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