FECC

30/10/2026

FECC Temporary Closure
Due to a personal loss, FECC will be closed for the next two weeks, reopening on 13 November. During this time, sample testing and drop-offs will be unavailable, and message and enquiries will not be answered. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this difficult time.

22/10/2026

Livamol with BioWorma, what does it actually do?
Did you know there's a natural fungus that can help reduce the number of infective worm larvae developing in your horse's manure?
Livamol with BioWorma contains a fungus called Duddingtonia flagrans, which works a little differently from your usual wormer.
How does it work?
When your horse eats BioWorma, the fungal spores pass through their digestive system and come out in their manure. The spores remain inactive whilst inside your horse and have no effect on them or parasites present inside your horse.
Once in the manure, the fungus gets to work trapping and consuming developing worm larvae, helping reduce the pasture contamination from parasite eggs and larvae. Making the pasture a cleaner place for your horse.
Does it replace worming?
No! And this is the important part. BioWorma works in the manure, NOT inside your horse. It doesn't treat existing worm burdens, encysted strongyles, tapeworms or bots, and it won't remove infective larvae already on your pasture.
What about FEC testing?
You still need regular Faecal Egg Counts (FECs) to monitor parasite egg shedding and Faecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRTs) to check whether your wormers are working effectively.
The takeaway message -
BioWorma can be a great addition to your horse's parasite management program, helping reduce future pasture contamination. But it works alongside FEC testing, appropriate worming and good pasture management — not instead of them!
Test before you worm.

14/10/2026

Spring is well underway, but there's still time to get your horse's FEC done!

A FEC can help determine whether your horse needs worming this spring, rather than treating simply because it's that time of year.

Contact FECC for sample submission forms and drop your samples off at Horseland Canberra or EQ Saddlery - Canberra.

09/10/2026

Did you know that foals and young horses need a different parasite management plan from adult horses?
Their immune systems are still developing, making them more vulnerable to parasites such as ascarids (roundworms).
Heavy parasite burdens can cause poor growth, digestive problems, colic and, in severe cases, even death.
So, when should you start worming your foal?
The first 12 months.
Current Australian guidelines suggest approximately 4 treatments during their first year, with the first treatment usually around 2 months of age. And should be benzimidazole based wormer.
Further treatments follow every 2 months after that. The wormer used will be determined by the results of the pre wormer FEC test to determine which parasites are most prevalent.
FEC tests should be carried before each worming treatment ands after to monitor for effectiveness.
Important note - not all wormers are suitable for foals. Wormers containing Moxidectin are not suitable for use in foals under 6 months of age.
Good pasture management matters too!
Worming is only one part of the picture!
Where possible:
• Foals should be placed on the cleanest pastures possible
• Poo pick regularly to reduce parasite contamination.
• Avoid grazing foals with yearlings where practical.
• Keep manure piles away from grazing areas.
What about yearlings?
Horses aged 1–3 years are still developing their natural immunity to parasites. Yearlings should be treated 3 to 4 times a year with the changes of season and 1 of these worming treatments should be a moxidectin/praziquantel based wormer (usually given in the winter). FEC's before and after treatments should be carried out to monitor effectiveness and for signs of resistance.

For individual treatment decisions, particularly in very young foals or suspected heavy parasite burdens, veterinary advice is essential. Veterinary advice supersedes any FECC advice.

Start early. Test regularly. Treat appropriately.
Test before you worm.

01/10/2026

FECC has multiple drop off locations for samples throughout Canberra. The easiest and best option is to drop your horses sample off at Horseland Canberra or EQ Saddlery - Canberra whilst you are doing some shopping.
Alternatively, you can contact FECC to arrange sample collection at Belconnen or Tuggeranong town centers. We also accept postal samples, please contact us for more details.
Good parasite management isn't just about what's in the wormer tube.
And remember - this is an important time of year to FEC test, but that doesn't mean every horse needs to be wormed.
Test before you worm.

28/09/2026

Let's Talk Fly Control
Welcome to our fourth post looking at everyday management practices that can work alongside your FEC testing and worming programs.
Today's topic is something that comes with the warmer weather… Fly control.
At best, flies and midges are an annoying nuisance for our horses. But depending on the species, they can also contribute to skin irritation, spread infection, interfere with wound healing and, in some cases, play a role in parasite transmission.
So what can we do to make our horses a little less attractive to them?
• Use fly protection - fly repellents, masks, veils, fringes, fly rugs and boots can all help. Choose what's appropriate for your horse and always follow the product directions.
• Provide somewhere to escape - make sure horses have access to shade or shelter where they can get some relief from flies.
• Reduce fly breeding areas - limit standing water around yards and stables and keep these areas as clean as possible.
• Manage flies around stables - fly traps and other appropriate control methods can help reduce fly numbers around yards and stables.
• Keep your horse clean - wash horses after work and regularly clean around the eyes, nose and dock.
• Look after wounds - keep wounds clean, appropriately treated and protected from flies.
Good parasite management isn't just about what's in the wormer tube.
And remember - this is an important time of year to FEC test, but that doesn't mean every horse needs to be wormed.
Test before you worm.

26/09/2026

21/09/2026

Let's Talk Cross-Grazing
Welcome to our third post looking at everyday management practices that can work alongside your FEC testing and worming programs.
Today's topic is the benefits of co-grazing or cross-grazing your paddocks with another livestock species.
Firstly, we know this isn't possible for everyone. Many horses are kept on agistment properties or stables, where space may be limited, and let's face it another livestock species means more time, work and expense. But if it's an option for you, cross-grazing can be a useful parasite-management tool.

Sheep, cattle, goats, llamas or alpacas can co-graze with horses or be grazed on paddocks after horses have been removed.

Many of the important parasites affecting horses are host-specific. This means that when another livestock species ingests infective horse parasite larvae while grazing, those parasites generally can't complete their lifecycle in that animal. The result? Fewer infective horse parasite larvae/eggs on the pasture for your horse to pick up.

There's another benefit too. Different livestock species graze differently. Sheep and cattle, for example, may eat grasses that horses leave behind, helping manage areas around horse grazing zones and exposing the pasture to environmental conditions that can also reduce parasite survival.
Cross-grazing isn't a replacement for FEC testing or worming programs, it's another tool we can use to help reduce parasite pressure on our paddocks.

Good parasite management isn't just about what's in the wormer tube.
Next up: Let's Talk Fly Control!
And remember - this is an important time of year to FEC test, but that doesn't mean every horse needs to be wormed.
Test before you worm.

14/09/2026

What do we do with all that Poo?
Welcome to the second post in our series looking at everyday management practices that can work alongside your FEC testing and worming programs.
Today's topic is muck heap/manure pile management. Remember that 18 kg of manure your horse produces every day? The more than 6 tonnes of manure a year per horse? What do we do with all that poo?

Location, location, location: Keep manure piles at least 3m away from paddocks, yards, stables and areas where horses regularly spend time. High traffic areas such as fence lines and shady trees are also unsuitable places to place manure. Most importantly, horses shouldn't have access to the manure pile.

Ideally, a permanent manure pile should have a suitable base and be positioned to prevent runoff entering paddocks and waterways. A trailer can also be a practical option for temporarily storing manure before moving it to a larger composting area.

Proper composting generates heat, which helps reduce the viability of parasite eggs and larvae while turning all that manure into something useful!
Once properly composted, the manure can be used on gardens or, when appropriate, returned to empty pastures.

Avoid spreading fresh or inadequately composted horse manure over grazing pasture. You could simply be returning parasite eggs and larvae to the environment you're trying to clean up.

Good parasite management isn't just about what's in the wormer tube.
Next up: Cross grazing your paddocks with another livestock species.
Test before you worm.

11/09/2026

"Why does my horse need worming when other horses in the paddock don’t?"
With spring FEC results starting to go out, this is a question we hear quite often at FECC.
And the answer comes down, in part, to something called the 80:20 rule.
Around 80% of parasite egg contamination on pasture can come from just 20% of horses, these are our higher shedders.
By identifying and treating these high shedding horses when appropriate, rather than automatically worming the whole herd, we can significantly reduce the number of parasite eggs being added to the pasture while avoiding unnecessary treatment of lower-shedding horses.
This leads to the follow up question - “My horse is a high shedder, should I be worried?” Being a high shedder does NOT mean your horse is unhealthy or that you should be able to look at them and see they have worms. It simply means your horse tends to shed more parasite eggs in their manure than other horses. My own horse is a consistent high shedder and I would defy anyone to identify that just by looking at him. He is just talented at shedding parasite eggs.
And that's exactly why we test. Two horses can share the same paddock, have the same management and still return very different FEC results. For our low shedding adult horses, that may mean they don't require treatment this spring and can potentially wait until our late autumn/early winter treatment period.
Keeping in mind individual circumstances matter. Previous treatments, new horses entering the herd, age, reproductive status, health, pasture conditions and weather can all influence our recommendations. Foals, young horses, pregnant mares and some older or unwell horses may also require a different parasite-management approach.
That's why FECC asks you all those questions when you submit a sample! We aren't just looking at a number, we're looking at your horse and their individual risk.
Test before you worm.