Why carry out faecal egg counts?

In young stock high worm burdens lead to reduced daily live weight gain; in adult animals high worm burdens will lead to poor condition which will have a knock on effect on fertility and milk yield. Worms can affect the guts, liver or lungs and clinical signs will vary. The eggs of gastrointestinal and other types of parasites can be found in the faeces. By measuring the amount of eggs in the faeces we can measure the amount of parasite in the animal.