BioWorma vs. Livamol with BioWorma: Which One Do You Need?

Exotic Animal Supply carries both BioWorma and Livamol with BioWorma, and the question we hear most is which one to actually buy. The short answer: they use the same active ingredient and work the same way once they hit the manure. The real difference comes down to concentration, form, and whether you want added nutrition built in.

Same Active Ingredient, Different Concentration

Both products contain Duddingtonia flagrans strain IAH 1297, the fungus that captures and consumes worm larvae in manure before they migrate onto pasture. Neither product treats worms already inside the animal, and both require an initial chemical dewormer treatment before starting.

Where they differ is concentration. BioWorma is the concentrated form, a minimum of 500,000 colony-forming units per gram. Livamol with BioWorma is a diluted premix, a minimum of 20,000 CFU per gram, about 25 times less concentrated. That's exactly why the two products are dosed at different rates. BioWorma's labeled rate is 0.1 oz per 100 lbs of bodyweight per day. Livamol, with BioWorma's labeled rate, is 1.6 oz per 100 lbs per day, since it takes more of the diluted product to deliver the same spore count.

Fed at their labeled rates, both products deliver an equivalent dose of active spores. Neither is more effective than the other.

BioWorma: Built for Mixing In

BioWorma is a grey to brown free-flowing meal, meant to be mixed into feed, feed supplements, premixes, or concentrates you're already using. It has no added nutritional profile of its own. It's a straightforward, concentrated delivery method for producers who already have a feeding program in place and just need to add the fungal spores into it.

Livamol with BioWorma: Built to Feed Directly

Livamol with BioWorma is built on a Livamol base, a palatable green meal historically used as a standalone protein and energy supplement. On top of the same active fungus, it carries a guaranteed nutritional profile: minimum 20% crude protein, 5% crude fat, plus vitamin A, vitamin D3, and manganese. That makes it a two-purpose product, parasite control and nutritional support in one, which matters for young, aged, or recovering animals.

It's also more palatable on its own than straight BioWorma, since it's designed to be fed directly rather than blended into an existing ration.

Does the Choice Change by Species?

Not really, and that's worth saying directly. Both products are labeled for the same species: sheep, goats, cattle, and horses, along with other grazing animals like deer, alpacas, and zoo species. The active fungus and its mechanism don't change based on what's eating it. What shifts by species is worm burden and grazing behavior, not which product to reach for.

IAHP's published research has measured overall pasture larval count reductions averaging 84% in horses, 81% in cattle, 86% in goats, and 68% in sheep. Those numbers apply equally whether the fungus arrives via BioWorma or Livamol with BioWorma, since the spore is identical either way. The product choice comes down to feeding format and nutrition, not species.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Which One Should You Choose?

If you already have a feed or supplement program and just want to add BioWorma's parasite control into it, the concentrated product is the simpler add. If you want something ready to feed on its own, especially for animals that could benefit from extra protein and vitamins alongside the parasite management, Livamol with BioWorma covers both at once.

Neither choice is wrong. Some operations run both, using BioWorma for the main herd's feed mix and Livamol with BioWorma for young or recovering animals that need the nutritional boost. Producers stocking up on other husbandry supplies alongside either product often set both up as part of the same standing order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is one product more effective than the other?

No. Fed at their labeled rates, both deliver an equivalent dose of active spores and work identically once in the manure. The concentration difference is offset entirely by the dosing rate, so neither product is doing more work than the other.

Can I switch between the two?

Yes. Since the active ingredient and mechanism are the same, switching products doesn't interrupt a parasite management program, as long as dosing follows each product's own labeled rate rather than carrying over the previous product's amount.

Does Livamol with BioWorma replace a regular ration?

It can supplement one. Its guaranteed protein, fat, and vitamin content make it more than a delivery method for the fungal spores, but it's not formulated as a complete feed on its own, so it works best alongside an animal's existing diet rather than in place of it.

Why is the dosing so different between the two?

Livamol with BioWorma is a diluted premix, about 25 times less concentrated than BioWorma. It takes a larger daily amount to deliver the same number of active spores, which is why the labeled rates look so far apart even though the underlying dose is equivalent.

Do both products need the same starting steps?

Yes. Treat with a chemical dewormer first, move animals to a lower-risk pasture where possible, then begin daily feeding of either product as an ongoing program rather than a short course.

Where to Buy

Exotic Animal Supply is one of only two authorized US sellers of both products. BioWorma is in stock now, with same-day shipping on orders placed before 2 PM EST. Livamol with BioWorma is expected back in stock soon; check the BioWorma collection for current availability on both.