The FAMACHA system

The FAMACHA system is a methodology to slow the development of drench resistance in barber’s pole worms of sheep and goats. It is based on minimising the need to drench all animals in the mob or herd at the same time, so leaving more worms in refugia (not exposed to a drench).

The system was developed at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and uses mucus membrane colour (specifically the colour of the conjunctiva inside the lower eyelid of the animal) to indicate the extent of anaemia in each animal caused by the barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus). The mucus membrane colour is rated 1 to 5 (1 being red with no evidence of anaemia, and 5 being pale/white with severe anaemia) and is used to determine whether specific individuals or the whole mob should be treated with an anthelmintic (drench).

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