Does Picking Up Poo Really Help with Worm Control? Yes — and Here’s the Proof!

6 Aug

A study from The Donkey Sanctuary in the UK looked at whether picking up poo in paddocks helps reduce worm burdens — and the answer is a big yes.

What did they do?

Over 7 months, researchers monitored 345 donkeys kept in different paddocks. Some paddocks had poo removed twice a week (by hand or machine), and some didn’t.

What did they find?

Donkeys on the clean paddocks had significantly lower worm egg counts than those on dirty ones. It didn’t matter whether the poo was picked up by hand or with a machine — both were just as effective.

Why does this matter?

The worms in this study were small strongyles (cyathostomins), which are the same worms that commonly affect horses. With worm resistance on the rise, picking up poo is one of the best ways to reduce infection and cut down on unnecessary worming.

What this means for horse owners

Even if you’re not treating with chemicals, regular poo picking (ideally twice a week) makes a real difference in reducing worm levels on your pasture. Less reinfection = fewer wormers needed.

Want to see the science?

Here’s the published article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3904009/