THE Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPM), in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS), successfully conducted a two-day workshop on Ruminant Herd Health Management on April 14-15.
This programme represents the second in a planned series of three workshops, following the first held on September 21-22, 2025.
A total of 44 participants attended, comprising 17 DVS field and administrative staff, led by the Deputy Director, Livestock Industry Development, Dr William Rovina Nating, and 27 smallholder sheep and goat farmers from Kapit, Sibu, Sarikei, Betong and Bintulu.
Practical demonstration of the five-point check facilitated by Dr Bura Paul Thlama, Dr Muhamad Hakim Ali Hanafiah and Assistant Veterinary Officer Muhammad Amir Afiq Mohd Azlan at Ladang Cyril Joe, Bintulu.
The training began with three technical seminar presentations: dissemination of research findings on gastrointestinal strongyle infections in small ruminants in Sarawak by Dr Bura Paul Thlama; current epidemiology, diagnosis and sustainable control of small ruminant helminthosis, also by Dr Bura Paul Thlama; and nutritional management strategies for sustainable parasite control by Dr Muhamad Hakim Ali Hanafiah.
Following the seminars, participants took part in hands-on fieldwork involving sample collection and the application of the five-point check system, focusing on body condition scoring, FAMACHA and dag scoring to identify infested animals on farms.
The session was facilitated by Dr Bura Paul Thlama and Dr Muhamad Hakim Ali Hanafiah, with assistance from assistant veterinary officer, Muhammad Amir Afiq Mohd Azlan.
The laboratory training focused on basic qualitative and quantitative faecal analysis to estimate worm burden, as well as a simple microhaematocrit technique to determine packed cell volume.
These methods serve as complementary laboratory tools to the five-point check system in selecting animals for strategic Targeted Selective Treatment (TST), aimed at addressing anthelmintic resistance in small ruminants in Sarawak.
This session was facilitated by Dr Suhail Mustafa, Dr Bura Paul Thlama, Denny Brooke Jilan, Nicholas Manggie and Ali Saidu.
Overall, the initiative strengthened collaboration between UPM and DVS while equipping farmers with practical, science-based solutions for sustainable small ruminant production.
Participants gained valuable skills in herd health monitoring and Targeted Selective Treatment (TST) to combat parasite infections and anthelmintic resistance.
