Which practice uses diagnostic fecal testing and treats parasites only when counts are high?

• A. Testing fecal samples and only worming when counts are high
• B. Rotational grazing to reduce parasite eggs
• C. Co-grazing to control parasites
• D. Annual blanket deworming schedule

Answer: (A)

The main idea is using fecal egg counts to guide treatment, a targeted selective deworming approach. By testing animals and only treating when parasite counts are high, you avoid unnecessary deworming, help slow the development of drug resistance, and keep animals with low or no infection untreated. This relies on measuring eggs per gram in feces and using a threshold to decide when to treat, with thresholds varying by species, age, and production goals. Pasture-management practices like rotational grazing or co-grazing can reduce exposure, but they don’t replace diagnostic decisions about when to administer dewormers. An annual blanket deworming schedule treats all animals regardless of infection level, increasing drug use and accelerating resistance.