Australian pig vets and producers surveyed on worm control

The Veterinary Journal published a questionnaire survey on 19 October 2026 that examines gastrointestinal parasite control practices in Australian pigs, drawing responses from Australian pig veterinarians and Victorian pig producers.

The study, led by Ghazanfar Abbas with colleagues from the University of Melbourne and industry partners, including Robin B. Gasser, Mark A. Stevenson and Abdul Jabbar, addresses a gap in current knowledge of how worm burdens are managed at farm level. The authors report that gastrointestinal parasites remain a production and welfare concern in pig herds, yet systematic information on control approaches in Australia has been limited.

What did the survey cover?

The research team distributed questionnaires to two groups:

• Australian veterinarians involved in pig practice
• Pig producers in Victoria

The questionnaire design allowed the researchers to compare how veterinary recommendations align with on-farm practice, according to the publication.

Why does this matter at the barn level?

Gastrointestinal parasites in pigs can depress growth rates, reduce feed conversion and trigger the need for anthelmintic treatment, so survey data on current practice directly informs herd health planning. The Victorian producer component grounds the findings in a single major production state, which the authors note in framing the scope of their conclusions.

The paper is available online from 19 October 2026, and subsequent industry discussion is expected to focus on where veterinary guidance and producer behaviour diverge.

The takeaway

The survey provides a baseline picture of parasite control in Australian pigs against which future anthelmintic stewardship and herd health programs can be measured.