Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:

Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite

Resistant Sheep
Flystrike and the Wool Industry

Fly strike (Cutaneous myiasis) is estimated to cost the Australian wool

industry $280 million annually (Jones, 2008). A number of methods are
used to decrease the susceptibility of sheep to the fly larvae infestation.
These include mulesing, crutching, jetting with insecticides, control of
intestinal parasites and breeding (Primary Industries Standing Committee,
2006). However many of these methods are not without their own
problems and as such, leaves the breeding of sheep which are genetically
resistant to parasites as crucial long term, environmentally sustainable
mechanism for reducing reliance on painful procedures or use of
chemicals.

Problems with Current Methods of Strike Prevention

Mulesing

Increased awareness of animal suffering and rights, as demonstrated by

PETA’s “Save the Sheep” campaign post 2004, mulesing to prevent
breach strike has become the major controversial issue within wool
industry. Whilst the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) introduced the
campaign to phase out the practice by 2010 this has postponed this year
as progress to develop alternatives has been slow.

Bare Breech Breeding

Although some study has been conducted into bare breech phenotypes in
several breeds of sheep “very little work has been done…in Merino sheep”
(Hebart, 2006) and so this cannot be seen as a viable solution in the near
future.

Jetting

Spray on chemical insecticides (such as Organophosphates – Di-jet ® ,

synthetic pyrethroids- Outflank ®, insect growth regulators – CliK ® and
others) are available to control or eradicate sheep lice and blowflies. They
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
are a huge expense, with famers in NSW spending more than $30 million
per year on insecticides (Evans, 2004). They also present an occupation
health and safety risk, their use may restrict access to some markets such
as European wool processors and famers must also abide by meat and
wool withholding periods after jetting sheep(Evans, 2004). It is for these
reasons and growing concern about environmental effects of insecticides
and insecticidal resistance that their use is declining in popularity.

Drenching

Worms can cause diarrhoea (scouring) (Larsen JWA, 2008)which makes

the wool dirty and increases the sheep’s susceptibility to fly strike. The
most important sheep roundworms in Australian are Haemonchus
contortus (Barber’s Pole worm), Trichostrongylus (Black Scour worm) and
Ostertagia (Brown Stomach worm) (Besier, 2003). Infestations tend to
vary according to the climate; in Coastal Southern WA with summer rain
Barbers pole is dominant whilst in areas of Southern Western WA (winter
rain) there is often more black scour worm. However it is important to
note that infestations are generally a combination of different worm
species (Besier, 2003).

Initially drenching was seen as a wonderful solution to worm problems

however worm resistance to the drench was soon noticed. The drench
Thiabendazole was released in 1961, only 5 years later there were reports
that Haemonchus was becoming resistant to the anthelmintic (Love,
2007). In WA in 1994, there were signs that Ostertagia was showing signs
of resistance to Ivermectin which had only been released 6 years
previously (Love, 2007). Today in WA about 70% of sheep farms have
Macrocyclic Lactone (ivermectin, abamectin andmoxidectin) resistant
strains of Ostertagia(Love, 2007). Love uses the term resistance where
drench efficacy is less than 95%. To solve these problems there is a big
push for farmers to use integrated worm control which include: drenching
at strategic times, paddock rotation, regular resistance testing and testing
Faecal Egg Counts (FEC). However the long term solution is the breed
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
sheep which are more resistant to intestinal parasites which reduces the
need for chemicals to be used and can help reduce fly strike.

Genetics of Sheep resistance

Sheep resistance to parasites has been noted since the 1970’s

(Woolatson, 1990). A project was begun in 1976 by the CSRIO Division of
Animal Health Production to breed 3 strains of sheep from one original
unselected flock. Following an artificial challenge with Haemonchus sheep
were selected for showing increased resistance to Haemonchus (IRH) or
for decreased resistance to Haemonchus (DRH), the 3rd group was a
control group (CH) which was bred randomly. The graph below (figure 1)
shows the results after 10 years. It is clear that sheep selected for
resistance have a lower FEC.

Figure 1: The FEC for 3 different strains of sheep. Figures in each year have been adjusted to the
long term average.(Woolatson, 1990)
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
A similar study was conducted with merino lambs after being challenged
with Trichostrongylus colubriformis with results showing the 3rd generation
high resistant rams had 65% reduction in FEC compared with the random
control group(Woolatson, 1990).

Work by the CSRIO has indicated that heritability of FEC is between 0.2
and 0.3. This is lower than the heritability of traits which increase
production (0.3-0.5) however this is enough to enable breeders to
increase the resistance of their flock(Eady, 2006). The trait of low FEC is
very variable, this means that there can be a great difference between
the most and least resistant animal in the flock (Eady, 2006) yet this can
aid in the improving the genetic resistance of the flock in under a decade.

Cross resistance can also be shown with sheep bred with resistance to
Haemonchus also showing resistance to other strains of worm (Eady,
2006). This is important as the dominant worm varies year to year and in
different geographical locations therefore it makes it easier to breed rams
which are then resistant in many areas of the country. This cross
resistance was even seen in the absence of Barbers pole (see figure 2
below) and in sheep which were bred to be resistant to Black Scour Worm
(Eady, 2006).

Figure 2: Cross resistance to other worm species demonstrated in the Barber’s

Pole selection flock (Eady, 2006)
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep

Limitations

Historically most of the work done by breeders is to increase production

traits such as low fibre diameter, increase fleece weight, increase wool cut
from a sheep (wrinkly skin) and so on. Top line stud sheep are often kept
in sheds, drenched regularly, access to the best nutrition and so forth and
as such have little exposure to worm infestations. This also means there is
little opportunity to ‘test’ which sheep maybe more resistance. This has
led to the promotion of FEC testing as it can test the individual worm
burden on the sheep and the pasture contamination risk.

Several difficulties with this test include price and timing. FEC tests cost
several dollars each however testing young rams after weaning is the
most efficient way to improving the FEC resistance in the flock. The cost
of testing is little compared with the cost of overcoming parasites which
have multiple drench resistance or the loss of production whilst sheep are
infested. One drawback for using this test is that animals need to under a
worm challenge before genetic differences can be expressed; therefore it
is advised that sheep are tested after 6 weeks post-weaning. As egg
counts can vary over the day and between days it is advised that sheep
are brought into the yards just before they are to be tested and that all
sheep in one mob are tested on that day (Eady, 2006).

Using Estimated Breeding Values

FEC is a relative trait, where the egg count from one sheep is compared to
the flock as a whole. To compare different flocks an Estimated Breed
Value (EBV) for this trait is calculated. To increase the accuracy of the
measured trait, EBVs can also contain information from a ram’s relatives
and progeny. A number of traits are measured using EBVs, where the
values are expressed as a deviation away from the population average
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
(Lewer, 2005). An EBV score of zero means the sheep has average worm
resistance, a score of -1 is the best (most resistant) animal whilst a score
of +1 is indicative of the sheep with the least resistance (Sangster N,
2007).

Affects of Breeding for Resistance on Other traits

Fortunately breeding for low FEC values can be incorporated into breeding
for other important economic traits (fibre diameter, clan fleece weight)
(Sandilands, 1996). This Western Australia study also found that testing of
the rams 8 weeks after the break of season caused no great interference
into the normal farm management practices.

Culling Flystrike Susceptible Sheep

Whilst breeding for sheep which are resistant to internal parasites which
can reduce the incidence of breech strike the farmer can also cull sheep
which may be susceptible to body strike. Methods include culling sheep
which have been affected by flystrike or removing sheep which have traits
such as excess wrinkly skin or sheep with fleece rot or chronic dermatitis.
These traits attract female flies and provide moisture for the eggs they lay
to hatch(Hunt, 2001). This strategy can easily be incorporated with other
breeding aims.

Conclusion

There is a need in Australia for sheep farmers to adopt new practices to

combat flystrike problems. Manufactures and consumers of wool products
have become increasingly aware and concerned about practices of
mulesing or using chemical control of parasites. Breeders have
traditionally focused on traits which increase profit whilst concurrently the
cost of production losses due to parasites are often difficult to estimate
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
and as such there has been less pressure to produce genetically resistant
sheep. More emphasis needs to be put onto this breeding plan with
widespread use of estimated breeding values and it must include farmer
education to increase demand for sheep which show resistance to internal
parasites.

Works Cited
Besier, & Love. (2003). Anthelmintic resistance in sheep nematodes in
Australia: the need for new approaches. Australian Journal of
Experimental Agriculture , 43 (12), 1383 - 1391 .

Eady. (2006, March 2006). Breeding sheep for sustainable worm control
information sheet. Retrieved september 5, 2009, from CSRIO:
http://www.csiro.au/resources/pfb8.html

Evans, I. (2004, September). NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Retrieved September 4, 2009, from Agnote DAI- 78: Chemicals Registered
to treat Lice and Flystrike on Sheep:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/180469/lice-
flystrike-chemicals.pdf
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
Hebart, P. H. (2006). Understanding the Bare Breech Phenotype. 8th
World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production. Belo
Horizonte, Brazil.

Hunt, W., & Lewer, R. (2001, Dec). Sheep genetics: Selection of Merino
sheep resistant to body strike. Retrieved September 6, 2009, from
Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries:
http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/sheep/4918.html

Jones, A. (2008, January 14). Sheep welfare to benefit from new strategies
to tackle annual flystrike problem and phase out mulesing. Retrieved
September 3, 2009, from University of Melbourne:
http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/view.php?articleID=4876

Larsen JWA, A. N. (2008). Diarrhoea in Merino ewes during winter:

association with trichostrongylid larvae. Australian Veterinary Journal , 71
(11), 365-372.

Lewer. (2005). Sheep Breeding: Estimated Breeding Values. Retrieved

September 6, 2009, from Dept Agriculture WA:
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/aap/sl/bgh/fn0
53_1993.pdf

Love, S. (2007, February). Prime Fact 478: Drench resistance and Sheep
Worm Control. Retrieved September 4, 2009, from NSW Department of
Primary Industries:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/111060/drench-
resistance-and-sheep-worm-control.pdf

Primary Industries Standing Committee. (2006). Model Code of Practice

for the Welfare of Animals- The Sheep. Collingwood: CSRIO.

Sandilands. (1996). Breeding Worm Resistant Sheep at Billandri. Retrieved

September 6, 2009, from University of Sydney: Faculty of Veterinary
Science:
http://www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/sheepwormcontrol/topics/sandil97arv.pdf
 Breeding Hosts For Parasite Resistance:
Overcoming Flystrike Through Breeding Parasite
Resistant Sheep
Sangster N. (2007, August 14). SHEEP GENETICS (Breeding Worm
Resistant Sheep). Retrieved September 6, 2009, from Univsersity of
Sydney; Faculty of Veterinary Science:
http://www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/sheepwormcontrol/topics/topic9.html

Woolatson, R. (1990). Genetic Improvement of Resistance to Internal

Parasites in Sheep. 8th Meeting of the Aust Association of Animal
Breeding and Genetics. 38. CSRIO Divison of Animal Production.