Livestock researchers develop new strategies to combat parasite resistance in sheep

Researchers in Paraguay and the United States are developing new strategies to combat gastrointestinal nematode resistance in livestock, particularly within the sheep-farming sector.

In Paraguay, Dr. Griselda Asunción Meza of the Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Tecnológicas is validating the use of native medicinal plants as alternatives to commercial antiparasitic drugs. Laboratory evaluations have confirmed that four native plant species possess properties capable of altering the biological cycles of targeted pathogens. This research utilizes the ‘One Health’ framework and aims to provide economic opportunities for rural communities through the development of value-added botanical products.

In Texas, researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife are focusing on breeding programs to increase natural resistance. Led by Dr. Jake Thorne, the team is working to select healthier Dorper and Rambouillet sheep that can better withstand internal parasites like the barber’s pole worm. This preventative breeding approach responds to the limited availability of effective dewormers in the United States.