NZ535497A

NZ535497A - Organic mineral supplementation drench

Info

Publication number: NZ535497A
Application number: NZ53549704A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Robert James Pickering
Original assignee: Robert James Pickering
Priority date: 2004-09-23
Filing date: 2004-09-23
Publication date: 2008-03-28

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for controlling intestinal worms and or parasites in grazing stock, including breaking the worm cycle, enhancing the development of natural immunity to said parasites in the stock and providing means for selecting stock for breeding for internal parasite immunity comprising preparation of an oral drench product in the form of a smooth suspension containing zinc oxide, magnesium oxide and vegetable oil followed by appropriate application of the treatment to stock.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 535497 Compete Specification 23 JAN 2008 RECEIVED 535^-1 PATENT FORM NO. 1 (ctd) Patent Form No. 5 - Complete Specification (ctd) 1 ORGANIC MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION DRENCH Technical Field This invention relates to products administered orally to grazing animals 5 to protect or improve their health, improve resilience to parasites and enhance growth rates. Background Art Grazing and farmed animals such as sheep, cattle, deer and goats are prone to a number of health problems related to their diet and to ingested 10 parasites and toxins, especially under conditions of intensive farming and where there are high concentrations of single species. These problems, both by way of disease and by way of deficiency of essential or desirable nutrients and trace elements, result in poorer survival and poorer growth rates than with healthy disease-free animals, ultimately reducing the 15 returns that a farmer can achieve from his land. Many medications and supplements are administered orally to animals to try to overcome parasites, ingested toxins, prevent deficiency diseases and to make up for dietary deficiencies which inhibit the immune response or restrict growth rates, especially of young stock. For example, cider vinegar 20 is used to improve the digestive condition in the rumen. Copper, selenium and cobalt supplements are used to prevent debilitating deficiency diseases when pasture levels are inadequate, mainly as a result of the parent soil or rock being deficient in these minerals. Magnesium is used to prevent milk fever in lactating animals prior to parturition and in early 25 lactation when there is a high metabolic demand on mothering animals. This condition is often made worse by a potassium imbalance. Oral drenches with appropriate chemicals, e.g. anthelmintic drugs, are administered to kill intestinal worms and other parasites, while antibiotics and other medications are used to treat or prevent various 1 diseases which affect the health of the animals. However a common problem with the oral administration of mineral supplements such as zinc compounds in an aqueous vehicle is that mineral compounds in this type of vehicle are irritants which often causes scours 5 and which result in a low dwell time in the gut. Thus the absorption of mineral compounds in this format is generally poor, typically of the order of 5% which may not be cost-effective for some minerals. Furthermore, prolonged use of aqueous based zinc and some other mineral supplements causes a number of health problems such as pancreatic damage. For these 10 reasons, it is not common to use a full program of mineral supplementation with farmed animals, especially young stock, and farmers do not get the health, growth and productivity benefits that are potentially possible with the optimum use of mineral supplementation. The present invention comprises a particular combination of mineral 15 supplements and nutrients in a soothing digestible and nutritious vehicle which is administered orally to support the immune system, reduce the effects and aggressiveness of parasites, enhance resistance to parasites and improve growth rates and well-being, especially in vulnerable young stock. In addition the use of the present invention can improve both foetal 20 and young stock survival rates, increasing the overall breeding yield. More particularly, the combination used in the current invention is unexpectedly effective in controlling internal parasite infestations and in assisting the animal to develop its natural immunity to said parasites earlier and more effectively than without the use of the said combination. 25 An appropriate application of the treatment to young stock is when there is a break-down of the natural immunity to parasites. In sheep and many other species this can occur over the parturition period when contaminated pasture brings infection to the new season's crop of young stock. This temporary loss of immunity is known as the periparturient 30 rise. For example from three weeks post-lambing the immunity of ewes is 2 steadily regained and is complete about 6 weeks later. With the appropriate use of the present invention to the said ewes prior to or just after lambing effective worm control can be achieved and the sheep's natural immunity to parasites fully restored. 5 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. Disclosure of Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an oral 10 drench (also called OMS) for sheep, cattle, goats, deer and other grazing stock or ruminants wherein a) the drench is in a ready to administer form, not requiring the use of any additives or equipment to mix or prepare the said drench, b) the drench contains suspensions of compounds of zinc together with 15 magnesium and or copper and or other compounds in a vegetable oil vehicle as listed in the section labelled "COMPOSITION OF THE INVENTION" at concentrations which, when the recommended dose rate is used, readily meet many of the minimum dietary requirements of the subject animals, 20 c) the direct administration of zinc together with magnesium and or copper and or other compounds in the vegetable oil vehicle as described in the section labelled "COMPOSITION OF THE INVENTION" at the concentrations used in the present invention provides an adverse environment for intestinal worms and parasites 25 and significantly reduces the worm burden either or both by direct action of affecting worms or worm larvae in the gut of the animal and by enhancing the immune response of the subject animal, d) the drench is in the form of mineral compounds, supplements and 3 nutrients in a vegetable oil suspension such that the vegetable oil provides essential fatty acids, is soothing and nutritious and easily digested and avoids or minimises irritation of the digestive tract which is a common problem with aqueous based zinc, copper, magnesium and 5 other oral mineral supplements, e) the use of the vegetable oil vehicle increases the dwell time of the mineral additives in the gut and prevents them from causing scours, resulting in efficient absorption of the said minerals and hence economic and cost effective use of the said additives. 10 f) the use of the combination and concentrations of ingredients provided in the present invention assists stock treated by the said invention to develop their own life-long natural immunity to worms and parasites more quickly and effectively. Reference throughout this specification will now be made to the present 15 invention as applying to orally administered supplements for grazing stock and or ruminants. However, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of animals may be treated with the invention and that the product may be administered by means other than oral drenching. The oral application of aqueous solutions, mixtures and suspensions containing absorbable zinc compounds is well known for causing irritation of the gut and inducing scours, pancreatic disorders and other problems, especially if repetitively administered. An additional problem with oral administration of aqueous suspension and solutions containing active compounds is that not more than about 5% of the zinc is absorbed, thus making large and therefore relatively expensive dose rates necessary. The use of a vegetable oil vehicle prevents irritation of the gut by the mineral additives, avoids scours and allows a longer dwell time for the zinc compounds and other minerals, thus promoting more efficient 4 20 25 *- absorption and better economics. Vegetable oils contain essential fatty acids and other valuable nutrients which enhance the health, immune response and well-being of the animals that the invention is administered to. Significant constituents of the invention include but are not limited to 5 compounds of zinc, including zinc oxide, oleic acid, linoleic acid, vitamins and trace elements. Anti-oxidants and or preservatives are included to maintain shelf life or to improve the efficacy or ease of use of the invention. It has been found that the combination of potentially irritant minerals and chemicals with vegetable oils in the form of an oral drench 10 as described in the present invention prevents gut irritation, does not disturb the delicate balance of the rumen, and has a synergy effect in improving growth rates and enhancing natural immunity development. The history of water based mineral supplements is different, with the ubiquitous problems of gut irritation, scours, weight loss and the like. 15 In other embodiments of the invention, some or all of the vegetable oils may be supplemented by other non-aqueous vehicles which provide a soothing effect in the gut and facilitate the absorption of the mineral additives by the longer dwell time and the absence of scours. It appears from trials and studies that improvements both in growth rates 20 and in the development of a lamb's immune system are further enhanced by the improvement in quality of the mother ewe's milk supply as a result of the administration of the said product to the ewe prior to lambing. The most effective time to administer the OMS to the ewe is about 6 weeks prior to lambing. 25 Two-tooth ewes which as lambs were treated with the drench of the present invention have been found to maintain a high level of worm resistance through to mating and beyond, enhanced by the natural ageing immunity. This maintenance of natural immunity is particularly evident over the parturition period where the normal loss of immunity over this 30 period was minimised and was of short duration with the use of the 5 present invention. A significant feature of the use of the present invention by oral administration or drenching is the development of resistance by the treated animal to worm infestations. The results indicate that the product 5 produces an enhancement of the immune system whereby the animal develops a natural resistance to worm infestations. On the other hand there is no evidence of any development of parasite resistance to the OMS. This is in contrast to conventional drenches (for example, the benzimidazoles, levamisoles, and mectins or dectins) in which the worms 10 develop resistance to these anthelmintic drugs. A recent NZ-wide Meat and Wool Industry survey found that 94% of beef farms had anthelmintic resistance to one drug family and a significant proportion to two drug families. Sheep farms had 76% anthelmintic resistance to one drug family and many to two families. Only 10% of properties had no anthelmintic 15 drug resistance. It appears that the present product provides minerals, vitamins and nutritional supplements that are effective in advancing the development of natural immunity to worms in lambs as compared to the natural ageing immunity development in the absence of the said treatment. During the process of acquiring the early immunity, the 20 survival of L3 larvae in the treated lambs is impaired, thereby limiting the re-contamination of the pastures and effectively breaking the worm cycle. A concept called refugia has been developed to delay spreading of worm or parasite drench resistance (Pomroy, NZ Vet. J., December 2006). In this 25 method 10% of a mob are left undrenched. This dilutes the population of resistant parasites surviving from the 90% of the mob that have been drenched. The present invention with the use of the oral drench product in effects acts as a 100% refugia system in that few or no said parasites are directly killed by the product so there is no selection of product-resistant 30 parasites. 6 A significant finding from the trialing of the oral drench used in the present invention is that the said product when used in the dose range described below does not completely eliminate internal parasites but substantially reduces the severity and debilitation to the animal from the 5 effect of the infestation. Thus severely infested animals that would not be expected to survive often survive but remain partially infested when treated with the said drench while other less severely infected animals will also improve in condition but retain a residual worm infestation. For comparison, when infested stock are treated with conventional 10 anthelmintic drug drenches, if the parasites are not resistant to the said conventional drench all parasites are eliminated irrespective of the animal's level of natural immunity, while if the parasites are resistant to said conventional drench, it has little effect on the infestation. The implication of this result is that it is difficult to select stock on the basis of 15 natural immunity to parasites if stock have been treated with conventional drenches, since either all parasites are eliminated, irrespective of the natural immunity of the animal, or the stock may be overwhelmed with resistant parasites before natural immunity has developed adequately. 20 It has been found that the residual level of infestation in an animal when the OMS drench is used is a good and usable indication of the level of genetic immunity of the said animal to these parasites. By measuring the faecal egg count (FEC) of treated stock the natural genetic immunity of the said animal can be assessed and used as a powerful indicator of the 25 natural parasite resistance of an animal for selectively breeding naturally immune stock. At an appropriate time after OMS treatment and or at an appropriate age, e.g. 4 to 6 months, the FEC can be measured and high FEC stock culled or disposed of while they remain reasonably healthy and low FEC stock retained for breeding to develop progeny with excellent 30 resistance or immunity to parasites after just a few generations. Thus the use of the OMS drench of the present invention is a valuable tool for breeding stock to develop a mob, herd or flock that are naturally resistant 7 to internal parasites. The selection process is preferably made when the young stock have largely completed their own natural immune development, i.e. at or after 4 to 6 months of age. It has been established that for full development of 5 natural immunity the stock have to be exposed to parasites over a reasonable period of time. It appears that the exposure needs to be relatively continuous otherwise the immune development may be impaired and is certainly delayed. Research indicates that lambs are very efficient at developing their potential immunity in response to extended or 10 continuous parasite challenges up until the age of 6 months, but after 6 months the efficiency and efficacy of the immune development quickly falls. Selective breeding is practised in most farming operations to continually improve the productivity of the farmed animals. In respect of the present 15 invention, it enables selective breeding to be used to improve the natural resistance of stock to internal parasites by providing a system whereby farms can ascertain the relative immunity of comparable stock to said parasites and select the most resistant stock to breed from. As farming operations are generally limited in stock carrying capacity, stock with low 20 natural immunity are culled to allow capacity for better stock and their progeny. In effect, therefore, selective breeding for improving a trait such as natural resistance to parasites is brought about by selecting one or more males with highest natural resistance and preferably other desirable traits, or at least the absence of undesirable traits, and mating 25 these with females selected for best parasite immunity. The number of selected females mated is chosen to ensure that the carrying capacity of the farm including the new progeny is reached but not grossly exceeded. The remaining un-selected stock are generally culled and sold at a time when they are in their best condition to gain maximum returns from the 30 meat works. 8 In relation to the use of FEC to determine the relative immunity of stock to parasites, it has been found that a useful estimate of the FEC count can be made by evaluating the nature of the faecal droppings of comparably grazed stock of a similar age. Dry, firm or marble-like droppings are 5 indicative of a very low FEC, soft to firm droppings with some structure indicate low to middling FEC, plop droppings correspond to a higher FEC than soft droppings, slops indicate a high FEC and scours or liquid droppings indicate a very high FEC. COMPOSITION OF THE INVENTION 10 zinc compounds including oxide & sulphate range 1- 30% copper compounds including oxides & sulphate range 0 - 8% magnesium including oxides, carbonates & chloride range 0 - 7% iron including oxides, carbonates & sulphates range 0 - 5% cobalt including oxide & sulphate range 0 - 5% 15 calcium including carbonate & chloride range 0-7% sodium including chloride & bicarbonate range 0 - 5% potassium including chloride & sulphate range 0 - 5% selenium compounds range 0 - 1% phosphate and or phosphorus compounds range 0 - 6% 20 boron compounds including borax range 0 - 7% vitamin A range 0 - 2% vitamins of the "B" series range 0 - 4% vitamin C range 0-7% 9 vitamin D range 0 - 2% vitamin E range 0 - 3% aloe Vera range 0 - 7% oleic acid range 0- 20% 5 linoleic acid range 0- 20% linolenic acid range 0- 20% palmitic acid range 0- 10% methionine range 0- 6% sunflower oil range 0- 50% 10 linseed oil range 0- 30% soya bean oil range 0- 50% canola oil range 0- 50% peanut oil range 0- 30% vegetable oils range 0- 50% 15 propylene glycol range 0- 30% vehicle range 0- 25% BHA range 0- 3% BHT range 0- 3% ethanol range 0- 20% 20 isopropanol range 0- 20% benzyl alcohol range 0- 10% 10 benzoic Acid range 0- 6% folate range 0-1% PROPERTIES. APPLICATION AND USE OF THE INVENTION The invention may be used as a prophylactic to improve the animals 5 response or resistance to disease and parasites, as a method of providing mineral and dietary supplements to improve growth rates and or for treating diseases and infestations of parasites. The elimination of mineral deficiencies and the increase in the availability of zinc provided by the invention improves growth rates. 10 The presence of zinc and other mineral compounds in the gut at the concentrations provided by the invention has been found to significantly reduce the worm burden and enhance the animals own immune system to accommodate residual infestations, thus providing an additional factor by which growth inhibitions are substantially eliminated. 15 Generally the OMS would be applied in doses appropriate to the target animal's species, weight and age orally by way of a conventional drench gun. In specific cases it has been found to be effective in treating local infestations of worms by rectal or vaginal administration or by spreading product onto areas of skin or organs affected by fly strike or other attacks 20 or suffering form damage vulnerable to parasitic attacks. Investigations with the use of the invention have shown that lamb growth rates are increased by up to 200 gm per day compared to equivalent untreated stock. An Example of On-farm Results From the Use of the Invention 25 Ram breeding urogram. An elite group of ewes was screened from the flock based on constitution, sound wool and freedom from lameness, fly-strike and excessive dags. To remain in the elite group they had to scan twins, rear a lamb and remain sound at all times. The ram lambs were grazed 11 together without receiving anthelmintic drug drenches but treated with Oral Mineral Supplement (OMS) on a regular basis. The OMS program used was treatment at docking time, then 3 applications monthly, then 1 application at 6 weeks, and a final application 8 weeks later. Early in May 5 the lambs were weighed and any under 40 kg rejected. Others are rejected on the basis of any of the above listed criteria. During May a blood test is taken for the host resistance test (HRT) that measures blood antigens with high levels indicating degree of resistance to internal parasites. The bottom half of the HRT index ram lambs are deleted from the breeding 10 team. The top index rams with good May weights are mated to the elite mob and the remainder are mated to the flock ewes. Ewe lamb selection. The ewe lambs start off with an OMS treatment program similar to that of the ram lambs. At weaning in December they 15 are grazed on the hill blocks. The tail-enders that are not thriving in the environment are drafted off at regular intervals. These draftees are conventionally anthelmintic drug drenched and placed in the sale mob. By May typically 30% of the ewe lambs are drafted off as not being resilient to the natural worm challenge and the environment. The final selection of 20 the ewe lambs is made in August on constitution, size and wool, with a preference given to twins over singles even if they are a little lighter. At that stage a further 20% of ewe lambs are removed from the replacement ewe lambs and sold as fat lambs or for breeding, depending on the prices. 25 Ewe flock. Breeding ewes do not get anthelmintic drug drenches, only OMS prior to lambing. No breeding ewes are vaccinated or conventionally worm drenched now. Instead they receive an OMS prior to lambing only. Lambing percentage has been rising up to its current 150% and this is expected to rise significantly as the offspring from the home bred rams 30 come through the flock. 12 The quality of the two-tooth ewes entering the flock are the best that have been bred on the property. They are big, robust, mainly twin born and resilient and resistant to worms. They have shown minimal loss of immunity over the lambing period and that there is little L3 larvae 5 pasture contamination to infect the new season's lambs. Lambs that continue to grow well and are able to tolerate a worm burden can now be selected. Previously blanket drenching with anthelmintic drug drenches on ewe lambs masked the selection for resilient flock 10 replacement which meant worm problems got worse, production levels deteriorated and genetic gains were negative, therefore the farming system was not sustainable. The genetic gains were negative because the lambs retained for breeding were those responding best to anthelmintic drugs. 15 The observation for the OMS treatment in the lambs is that by June (at 9 months of age) they have a fully developed immune system, resilient to worms. 20 Studies conducted in NZ by Ag Research indicate that in a conventional system hoggets and, to a lesser extent, two-tooths are the main egg polluters of pastures as the young lambs are under an anthelmintic drug drenching program and mixed age ewes are resistant. In another Ag Research trial they reported that supplementary feeding of lambs was 25 effective in improving resistance to internal parasites if carried out before the age of 6 months but had little effect after that age. In the present situation it is evident that the OMS program has enabled the ram and ewe lambs to be exposed to natural worm challenges and be 30 protected to a large degree from such production limiting factors while facilitating the process of being able to clearly identify the superior 50% of lambs as future flock replacements. These have displayed superior 13 qualities of resilience and resistance, with better growth rates, constitution, wool quality, fertility and freedom of breed faults and dags. This approach has been successful in breeding replacement stock which outperform the previous breeding stock and which is providing a 5 consistent genetic improvement. Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention The invention is manufactured by adding appropriate quantities of the principal solid ingredients as listed above to the vegetable oil vehicle and 10 subjecting the mixture to a grinding process such as the use of a high shear mixer, homogeniser or other type of milling system to reduce the size of the particles in the suspension to improve their absorption, reduce any mechanical irritation within the animals and to enhance the formation of a suspension by way of said homogenisation for ease of 15 administration. At an appropriate time during the mixing and grinding liquid and various other ingredient are added. When the particles are ground sufficiently finely to allow the formation of a smooth suspension, the product is transferred to containers suitable to use with a conventional animal drench gun. 20 A study of the effect of the product of the present invention on lambing percentages as a result of the administration of the said product to ewes about 6 weeks prior to lambing showed that it produced an improvement in lambing percentage of around 20%. It appears that this was due to reducing slips and foetal losses and by improving the birth survival rates. 25 More generally it appears that the administration of this product to pregnant ewes at least once during the pregnancy will improve the average lambing percentage. A study of lambs treated at 4 weekly intervals since weaning with the OMS product of this invention found that the high faecal worm egg counts 30 in the range 30,000 per gram present at the start of the treatment reduced 14 to around 200 per gram after 8 months of treatment. Experience indicates that these low levels are maintained through to the spring with the product application being continued initially at monthly intervals and then at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks, depending on results from monitoring 5 the faecal egg count. Generally three applications of the present invention to lambs at monthly intervals, commencing immediately after weaning, are sufficient to prevent lambs succumbing to worm infections. The drench causes a major reduction in L3 worm larvae survival and inhibits re-infection. With each 10 application of the drench there is a progressive reduction in worm egg count. As a result very few L3 larvae survive over the winter to re-infest the next season's lambs, thereby breaking the worm cycle. Further studies with lambs have indicated that a program of 4 application of the product of this invention starting at 4 weeks of age (typically 15 docking time) was beneficial in advancing the development of the animal's immune system. Lambs treated according to this regime had a higher percentage of worm resistance by 8 months of age when challenged by the autumn rise of worm infestation (caused by optimum seasonal conditions for larvae survival leading to a significant increase in worm problems) 20 than equivalent lambs not treated according to this regime. Generally an animal is considered resistant to worms when the faecal egg count in the presence of sources of infestation is less than 500 eggs per gram of faeces. Above this figure but under 1000 to 1500 eggs per gram the animal is considered to be resilient to worms if it is doing well and showing above 25 average weight gain. In terms of these definitions the above study found that for lambs treated according to the regime of this study were, at 8 months of age, 62% had nil egg count, 88% (including the previously mentioned 62%) were resistant and 12% were resilient. Trials have been carried out with cattle to investigate improvement of calf 30 survival and growth rates. The results indicated that the use of the 15 product of this invention on calves and or their mothers prior to weaning can result in a reduction of calf death rates by around 10% and improved calf growth rates of up to 200 gm/day up to weaning time. These results were obtained for calves when they were given 10 ml of the product at 2 days of age (while they were in the rearing shed, the trial calves being shed reared), a further 10 ml at 6 weeks of age, 20 ml at 12 weeks of age, followed by 3 more applications of 20 ml each spaced at 8 week intervals. The product of the present invention can be used to support improved methods of selecting stock for specific genetic attributes for breeding improvements into a flock or herd or mob of animals, for example to improve overall production, growth rates or the like. As the use of the said product can overcome major problems such as failure to thrive, poor growth rates, increased mortality and other effects caused by worm infestation rather than genetic limitations, overcoming the adverse effects of worm infestation and encouraging and enhancing the development of the immune system allows breeding stock to be selected for genetic attributes rather than survival attributes unrelated to their genes. DOSING AND DOSE RATES For administration to sheep and cattle as a tonic, health improver and growth rate enhancer, and to control internal parasite infestations, the OMS is administered with a drench gun set to the dose rate for the species, weight and age as set out in Table 1. Lambs would normally be treated from 3 weeks of age. Calves are treated from weaning. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> TABLE 1: TREATMENT SCHEDULE FOR SHEEP AND CATTLE Animal Ase Dosase amount Dosage interval Lambs & kids From 3 weeks 4 ml to 8 ml 4 to 8 weeks Ewes & does 6 weeks p re-birthing 10 ml to 15 ml Yearly 5 Calves From weaning 20 ml to 30 ml 4 to 8 weeks Cattle 1 year + 30 ml As needed Topical application may be used for lesions, fly-strike abrasions and the like, by spreading the product over the affected area at intervals of a few 10 days. Vaginal worm infections in lambs can be treated by topical administration of the invention. Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be 15 made thereto without departing from the scope thereof. 17 CLAIMS

1. A method for controlling intestinal worms and or parasites in grazing stock, including breaking the worm cycle, enhancing the development of natural immunity to said parasites in the said stock and providing 5 means for selecting stock for breeding for internal parasite immunity comprising: (i) preparation of an oral drench product in the form of a smooth suspension by finely milling a mixture including at least the following ingredients at or above the following proportions - zinc oxide (~>10%), magnesium oxide (~>1%), and vegetable oil (~>30%); and (ii) 10 administration of said oral drench to lambs and kids from approximately 3 months of age at approximately monthly to bimonthly intervals until weaning at dose rates of approximately 4 to 8 ml, to sheep and goats at dose rates of approximately 10 to 15 ml approximately 6 weeks pre-parturition and or as required, to calves 15 approximately from weaning at approximately monthly to bi-monthly intervals at dose rates of approximately 20 to 40 ml, and to cattle at dose rates of approximately 20 to 40 ml as required, and to other stock in a similar manner or as required.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 for improving survival and growth 20 rates in young stock comprising the manufacture of a product and oral administration of said drench product to animals, with said product being manufactured and administered as claimed in claim 1.

3. A method for evaluating natural immunity to parasites for selecting or rejecting stock for breeding for internal parasite immunity comprising: 25 (i) preparation of an oral drench product in the form of a smooth suspension by finely milling a mixture including at least the following ingredients at or above the following proportions - zinc oxide (~>10%), magnesium oxide (~>1%), and vegetable oil (~>30%); (ii) administration of said oral drench to lambs and kids from 30 approximately 3 months of age at approximately monthly to bi18 monthly intervals until weaning at dose rates of approximately 4 to 8 ml, to sheep and goats at dose rates of approximately 10 to 15 ml approximately 6 weeks pre-parturition and or as required, to calves approximately from weaning at approximately monthly to bi-monthly 5 intervals at dose rates of approximately 20 to 40 ml, and to cattle at dose rates of approximately 20 to 40 ml as required, and to other stock in a similar manner or as required; (iii) avoidance of use of conventional drench families (benzimidazoles, levamisoles, and mectins or dectins) before young stock are selected for breeding or 10 culling on the basis of natural immunity to internal parasites; and (iv) evaluation of natural immunity of said treated young stock at the age of 4 to 6 months for said selection or rejection by determining or estimating, directly or indirectly, the FEC of said stock and grading them from having natural parasite resistance when their FEC at this 15 age is less than about 500, being resilient for parasites when the FEC is less than about 1000 to 1500, having poor or limited resilience when the FEC is in the range 1500 to about 4000 and lacking in genetic potential for internal parasite resistance when the FEC is more than about 5000. 20

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 where the said drench also contains at least 30% vegetable oils, at least 15% zinc oxide, at least 2% magnesium oxide and at least 1% copper sulphate.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 where the said drench also contains at least 1% iron sulphate. 25

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 where the said drench also contains at least 1% phosphate.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 where the said drench also contains at least 5% ethanol and or isopropanol.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 where the said drench 19 also contains at least 1% methionine.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole).

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 where the said drench also contains at least 1% calcium carbonate.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% vitamin A.

12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% vitamin E.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% potassium salts.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% folate.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 where the said drench also contains at least 0.1% borate or boric acid.

16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 15 for enhancing the natural immune response of a grazing ruminants over a prolonged period of time comprising the intermittent administration of said drench.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 16 used for young stock, with administration of said drench commencing prior to full rumen development and repeated at suitable intervals until said animals are aged approximately 7 to 8 months or until such time as said stock have developed immunity to intestinal worms or parasites.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 17 used with pregnant sheep and goats, with administration of said drench commencing prior to parturition and being repeated at appropriate 20 intervals through to early or medium lactation in order to prevent or reduce the adverse effects of worm burden including assisting with compensating for temporary loss of immunity such as the periparturient rise. 5

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 18 wherein the drench contains one or more of the substances listed under "COMPOSITION OF THE INVENTION" within the proportions shown in said list.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 19 for providing an adverse internal environment for intestinal worms or parasites.

21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 20 wherein the said drench is supplied to end users ready to administer to stock without requiring mixing or preparation by said user.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 21 wherein use of the said drench causes a prolonged increase in growth rates of young stock when administered to the mother approximately 6 weeks pre-parturition and or at or about monthly to bi-monthly intervals to said young stock.

23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 22 wherein use of the said drench causes an increase in survival rates of young stock when administered to the mother approximately 6 weeks pre-parturition and or at or about monthly to bi-monthly intervals to said young stock.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 23 which when 25 used with pregnant ruminant grazing stock improves the reproductive percentages by way of enabling a higher percentage of foetuses to survive to and after birth.

25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 24 wherein use 15 20 21 of the said drench reduces the intestinal worm burden in grazing ruminants and other animals stock when administered regularly to said stock.

26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 25 which when used with pregnant ruminants and or grazing stock improves the growth rates of the suckling young in the period prior to weaning.

27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 26 which when used with suckling young stock improves their growth rates.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 27 which when used with young stock improves survival rates over their first year of life.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 and 4 to 28 which when used with young stock improves their development of natural immunity including to worm and parasite infections compared to equivalent untreated stock.

30. A method of as claimed in claim 3 used on potential breeding stock and which further comprises selection of said breeding stock on the basis of relative immunity to said worms or parasites by said method exposing the effects of relevant genetic traits to a greater extent than would otherwise be possible without significantly more expensive methods, thereby assisting with the development of stock with improved parasite immunity.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 3 and 30 used on stock for guiding selective culling of animals with low natural immunity to parasites which further comprises characterisation of said stock on the basis of relative parasite immunity in that control but not elimination of parasites as a result of said methods allows the use of faecal egg counts (FEC) or faecal dropping evaluations in stock of a similar age and similarly treated to provide a measure of the natural immunity of 22 said stock, thus allowing low natural immunity stock (high FEC or "loose" droppings) to be identified and culled and high natural immunity stock (low FEC or firm or marble-like droppings) to be identified and retained for further breeding and or production.

32. A method as claimed in any one of claims 3, 30 and 31 used on stock for guiding selective culling of stock with low natural immunity to parasites which further comprises characterisation of said stock on the basis of relative parasite immunity in that control but not elimination of parasites as a result of said methods allows the use of faecal egg counts (FEC) estimates from faecal dropping evaluations in stock of a similar age and similarly treated to provide a low-cost measure of the natural immunity of said stock, wherein the measure includes or uses one or more of: dry, firm or marble-like droppings indicate very low FEC and good or high immunity; soft to firm droppings with some structure indicate low to middling FEC and middling immunity; plop droppings indicate a higher FEC than soft droppings and relatively poor immunity; slops indicate a high FEC and poor immunity; and scours or liquid droppings indicate a very high FEC and very poor immunity. ROBERT JAMES PICKERING Applicant 23 </div>