Play the long-game on production, worm burden & drench resistance.
WormFEC Gold is New Zealand’s leading certification for worm resistant sheep genetics.
Developed by a network of top New Zealand breeders, WormFEC Gold helps New Zealand sheep farmers to achieve better profitability through genetic lines selected for production and worm resistance.
Using a targeted breeding programme – with the support of your local WormFEC Gold member – you’ll drive production, reduce your reliance on chemical drench and improve animal health. One generation at a time.
Achieve +$6 in NZMW value as a WormFEC Gold flock
Flocks with high worm resistance are better for your bottom line. WormFEC Gold flocks deliver an average of $6 (600 cents) in New Zealand Maternal Worth score (NZMW – a combined index for maternal sheep including Growth, Survival, Adult Size and Fertility) over the national average for Dual Purpose flocks.
When it comes to measuring worm tolerance specifically, WormFEC Gold flocks achieve +$2.80 (280 cents) above the national average for DPF score (Dual Purpose Fec – an index valuing tolerance to internal parasites) and +$1.60 (160 cents) above parasite resistant breeding competitors.
NZMW – WormFEC GOLD flocks 600c above national average
DPF – WormFEC GOLD flocks 280c
above national average
Six ways WormFEC Gold flocks achieve above-average returns
Resistance + production. WormFEC Gold rams are bred for both worm resistance and production. These two outomes support profitability for your farm’s bottom line by decreasing input costs, reducing production losses from worm burden and increasing performance gains.
Save time and money by drenching less. Drenching sheep can be a big job and newer drenches are expensive. With worm resistance genetics and good management practices, you’ll use less drench on young stock and usually none on mature animals.
Avoid or reverse drench resistance. Every time your drench, you increase the chance of worm and worm populations developing drench resistance. Because sheep with worm resistant genetics need less drench, you’re protecting the effectiveness of your drenches for when you need them.
Provide refugia. Mature, worm resistant flocks run under good management practices, can usually be left undrenched. This undrenched population provides refugia, where drench-susceptible worms breed and dilute the drench-resistant population – helping to protect the effectiveness of your drenches for when you need them.
Trading value. In a time when triple-active drench resistance is proven to be present on 1/3 of New Zealand sheep farms (and likely higher) – your worm resistant stock offer additional value when it comes to store trading.
Sustainability premiums. With customers demanding fewer chemicals in their food, now is the time to position yourself to benefit from future sustainability and animal welfare market changes. Some WormFEC Gold breeders are already realising this added value with Certified Organic accreditation.
The WormFEC Gold breeders
Top sheep farmers around the country make up the WormFEC Gold breeder network.
Off the farm, they are Nuffield scholars, Farmer Councilors and community & industry leaders.
Connected together by a passion for building resilient, profitable and sheep farming operations – they see their worm resistant sheep genetics as a powerful tool in the fight against drench resistance, and the risk it poses to rural prosperity in New Zealand.