A survey of equine parasite control practices in Tennessee.

The research paper focuses on understanding equine parasite control practices in Tennessee using a sample of 130 horse owners selected randomly. While most of the owners administered anthelmintics (83%) according to a set schedule, a small percentage (9%) only opted to deworm their horses if they detected weight loss. The paper further delves into the different frequencies and methods of deworming for various classes of horses.

Sampling and Data Collection

• The research collected data from 130 horse owners in Tennessee who were randomly chosen, but weighted, from an equine newsletter’s subscribers published by the Agricultural Extension Service.
• Through a phone survey, information about the participants’ farms, horses, parasite control practices, and sources of information on equine parasite control were collected.
• The notable response rate of 98% showed significant participation in the survey, making the results more accurate and representative of the selected sample.

Findings on Parasite Control Practices

• Findings suggested that the average respondent kept 4 horses on 15 acre pastures and did not employ pasture rotation as a parasite control measure.
• Most of the horse owners (83%) gave their horses anthelmintics on a regular schedule while a small percentage (9%) only dewormed their horses after noticing weight loss.

Deworming Frequency for Different Horse Categories

• The research shed light on the frequency of deworming for various horse classes. It was found that all foals (0-6 months), weanlings (6-12 months), yearlings (1-2 years), and adults (more than 2 years) were dewormed at least once a year.
• However, with the increase in the number of treatments per year, the percentage of horse owners adhering to the deworming schedule decreased considerably.

Preferred Deworming Products and Practices

• The study also explored the deworming products used by the horse owners. Among those who dewormed their horses more than once in a year, many (53 to 80%) used the same product for each treatment session.
• Most commonly used among all age groups was the ivermectin paste (46 to 63% of the owners), followed by tube deworming (23 to 38%) and the use of benzimidazoles (4 to 16%).