Teaching the next generation about worms.
Sericea lespedeza has been shown to reduce barber pole worm infections in small ruminants.
Hair sheep tend to be more resistant to gastro-intestinal parasites than wooled sheep or goats.
Dr. Joan Burke
Research Animal Scientist
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
(479) 849-5399
joan.burke@usda.gov
Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center
6883 South State Highway 23
Booneville, AR 72927
Joan Burke is a Research Animal Scientist with USDA-ARS since 1999. She received a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University and Ph.D. from Oregon State University. Dr. Burke conducts research on small ruminants with a focus on holistic gastrointestinal parasite control. She has published research articles, fact sheets and contributed to outreach events on the validation of the FAMACHA© system in the U.S., use of copper oxide wire particles to control Haemonchus contortus, feeding sericea lespedeza to aid in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes, using rotational grazing to minimize the need for deworming lambs, genetic and genomic selection for parasite resistance, resilience and tolerance, and use of Duddingtonia flagrans (nematode-trapping fungus) to control parasites on pastures. The genetic resistance of Katahdin sheep to parasites led to collection of genotypes (~10,000) on 50K SNP that were developed into genomic-enhanced estimated breeding values in the National Sheep Improvement Program. Dr. Burke also has examined the effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue on production and reproduction in sheep and cattle. Dr. Burke has been able to conduct this research through funding by USDA-ARS, USDA-NIFA-OREI, Southern Region SARE, and USDA-SBIR.
Publications
Changing dogma: changes to parasite management in the 2000's to keep your dewormers working [March 2015]
Copper oxide wire particles to control Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants [November 2013]
How can artificial insemination (AI) further parasite resistance in sheep? [February 2014]
Using Copper Oxide Wire Particles to Increase Dewormer Efficacy [September 2016]
Selection for Parasite Resistance [October 2017]
Timely Topics: Nematode trapping fungus [January 2019]
Best Management Practices: Worm Trapping Fungus [January 2021]
Best Management Practices: The Periparturient Egg Rise [April 2020]
Podcasts
Copper oxide as a dewormer for goats [December 2020]
Last updated 05.20.22