Faecal Egg Count Service

We have just purchased a new machine to run worm egg counts. This means a free cocci count will now also be included with all samples run and we can test for worms, cocci and fluke (including rumen fluke) with most results being available the same day (if brought in before 12pm). Dung samples should be fresh when collected (less than one hour old) and kept cool (not frozen) in an airtight container or plastic bag, before examination or delivery to the practice within 48 hours. If the faeces are too old, some eggs will have hatched and the reported egg count will be an underestimate. Sheep should be healthy and have had full access to pasture and/or feed before sampling, otherwise the FEC will be difficult to interpret.

When collecting your sample we advise you to hold the animal in the corner of a field or pen for a few minutes then collect random samples from the area. For the best results it is recommended that you bring in a minimum of 15 different samples collected in different bags/containers. Each sample must contain at least 3 grams for us to be able to test for a worm egg count and 5 grams for a fluke test.