Biological control of nematode parasitism.

Duddingtonia flagrans is a non-chemical biological control for the infective stages of parasitic Gastrointestinal nematodes of grazing animals, which acts by substantially reducing the numbers of infective worm larvae (including multi-resistant larvae) emerging from manure onto pasture.  When fed to animals, the thick-walled spores remain inert (having no effect within the host animal) and resist digestion, passing through into the manure. There they germinate and form trapping organs that capture, paralyse and consume emerging infective worm larvae (including multi-resistant larvae). The crucial re-infestation stage of the parasites’ life cycle is interrupted, reducing the amount of re-infection from contaminated pasture. This interruption of the life cycle significantly reduces parasitic nematodes on pasture. The spores are safe, non-toxic and residue-free.

Cost of production losses due to internal parasites.

The estimated losses in sheep and cattle in Australia alone is $A1 billion and tens of billions worldwide (Roeber et al., 2013).

Another study published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (Lane et al., 2015) estimates the total losses per annum due to internal parasites:

• Cattle $A93.6 million ($US70m/$EU66m) with production losses ranging from $4.03 - $11.94 per animal
• Sheep $A436 million ($US327m/$EU305m) with production losses ranging from $1.29 - $28.29 per animal
• Goats $A2.54 million ($US1.9m/$EU1.8m) with production losses ranging from $0 - $5.34 per animal
• Horses, there is currently no production loss data