KRISTI^ C
OOK
(^4 )(^68) September/October 2019
■ (^) FRESH IS BEST. Manure found lying on the
ground, in a feed trough, or in the hay bale
should, in general, never be used. Parasite
eggs hatch quickly in moist heat, making the
Eggs Per Gram (EPG) inaccurate and useless
in older, nonrefrigerated manure. Most labs
request that only freshly deposited manure be
used to ensure accurate test results.
■ LUBE UP. This may seem gross to some, but
the best way to obtain the freshest manure
possible is by very gently inserting well-lubed
fingers into the anus of an animal to remove a
bit of fecal matter. Alternatively, ask your local
vet for a fecal wand to use instead of your
fingers. Whichever tool you choose, make sure
the animal is well trained for this approach,
lest you end up with a hoof in the nose. Ask
a mentor or veterinarian to first show you the
process and let you know which species this
method works best on.
■ OR, SIT AND WAIT. The preferred method by
many — myself included — is to collect ma-
nure at feeding time. Most animals defecate
readily during feeding, so keep a plastic zipper
bag in your shirt pocket, with the intended
target’s name and the date written on the
outside of the bag. If you know your animals
well, you’ll be able to detect when the dung is
about to show itself. Position yourself in a safe
position near the posterior and collect a nice
warm sample as it drops out.
■ KEEP IT COOL. Refrigerate the sample im-
mediately upon collection to prevent eggs from
hatching. If you’re in the field for a prolonged
period, keep a cooler nearby with plenty of
cold packs or ice. Then, seal up the sample
and place it in the cooler. Just remember to
never let the sample freeze, as this destroys
the eggs.
■ SHIP IT OR TAKE IT. If using a lab that re-
quires shipment of the fecal, follow that lab’s
shipping guidelines. Many require samples to
be sent priority or overnight with a frozen cold
pack or frozen water bottle to keep the sample
cool. Double bag both the cold pack and the
sample to avoid potential leakage in transit.
While local vets may not require a cold pack,
since transport times are generally short and
eggs aren’t in danger of developing, ask first
before leaving the house.
When collecting samples, check with your
chosen lab first, as each lab varies in some
of the details. For instance, some labs are OK
with manure piles found in the field, while
most insist on “fresh is best.” Still others have
specific amount requirements, such as 1 to 5
grams, or simply “golf-ball-sized” samples.
Follow their guidelines, and the EPGs should
be reliable based on their chosen systems.
CONSIDER TRYING THESE
LABS FOR THAT NEXT FECAL:
■ MidAmerica Agricultural Research Inc.
Management Service:
http://www.MidAmericaAgResearch.net
■ MDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories:
http://www.MDA.Maryland.gov/AnimalHealth
■ Virginia Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services:
http://www.VDACS.Virginia.gov/animals-
laboratory-services.shtml
■ The University of Georgia Veterinary
Diagnostic Laboratories:
http://www.Vet.UGA.edu/dlab
Tips for Collecting Fecal Samples
Understanding the value of a fecal is paramount in using dewormers correctly. However, the infor-
mation obtained from a fecal is only as good as the sample collected. Keep these pointers in mind
when collecting that next batch of pellets, patties, or droppings.