1) Planning an effective parasite control strategy
Planning an effective parasite control strategy relies upon establishing specific management systems for individual farms and pastures. The type of parasite and the level of challenge will vary from location-to-location and animal-to-animal. The most common worms in cattle are Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora, Haemonchus contortus, and Dictyocaulus viviparus, which can inhibit an animal’s growth and reduce productivity, in addition to producing clinical disease. Thus identifying, monitoring and managing for the exact challenges of your individual farm is vital.
2) Integrated approach to worming
As the conditions on individual farms are highly variable, a general ‘one size fits all’ blueprint will not be effective. Planning an integrated approach that identifies the risks and utilises both worming treatments and grassland management to control a specific parasite threat will reduce the risk of outbreaks of clinical disease and loss of productivity. Reducing reliance on worming treatments alone also reduces selection for resistant parasites. The guidelines below outline key areas for consideration, however your local veterinarian or animal health advisor can support you to understand and plan a worming management strategy that is right for your farm.
3) Know which worms are on your farm
To plan effective grassland management it’s important to know which parasites are on the farm and when and how they will impact the cattle. Dedicate some time at housing, at turnout and in mid-summer to reflect on the effectiveness of parasite control over the previous months and plan for the next six months.
4) Consider the worm lifecycle
It is important to understand that parasite larvae that survived the winter will become active at around the time when grasses turn green in the spring. Cattle can potentially become infected with parasites from every bite of forage they take throughout the grazing season. When developing a parasite control program for the grazing season consider the type and age of cattle, farm topography and facilities, and the farm’s objectives and capabilities. Climatic conditions will inevitably impact on plant growth, parasite epidemiology, cattle husbandry, farm management and housing, and thus parasite control approaches may need to be adapted to take this into account. Parasite populations typically increase from spring into summer resulting in an increasing risk of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE), whilst clinical lungworm disease usually occurs from July onwards.
5) Consider the parasite lifecycle
It is important to understand that parasite larvae that survived the winter will become active at around the time when grasses turn green in the spring. Cattle can potentially become infected with parasites from every bite of forage they take throughout the grazing season. When developing a parasite control program for the grazing season consider the type and age of cattle, farm topography and facilities, and the farm’s objectives and capabilities. Climatic conditions will inevitably impact on plant growth, parasite epidemiology, cattle husbandry, farm management and housing, and thus parasite control approaches may need to be adapted to take this into account. Parasite populations typically increase from spring into summer resulting in an increasing risk of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE), whilst clinical lungworm disease usually occurs from July onwards.
6) Grazing management to minimise PGE
Planned ahead, grazing management can be used to reduce the risk of PGE, particularly in young cattle at highest risk of disease. Map the farm at the start of the grazing season to determine the use of pastures, particularly in terms of parasite risk, when aftermaths will become available and which classes of stock will be moved there.
7) Targeted approach to worming
Treating the right animals at the right time is critical to the success of gutworm control.
Each spring, decide whether the parasite control plan for youngstock will be a preventive strategy, using anthelmintic and grazing management, or whether a targeted approach, based on on-going risk assessment, is more appropriate for the farm. To be effective, strategic parasite treatments need to begin early in the grazing season, at or shortly after turnout. Thereafter, this approach will help to minimise pasture contamination up to mid-July, by which time the over-wintered population should have declined to insignificant levels. If a targeted approach is implemented, then ensure that effective, regular cattle growth monitoring is carried out to assess the risk of parasite exposure. Diagnostic testing may also be useful. Faecal egg counts can provide some indication of parasite burdens early in the grazing season and can be a useful tool for monitoring trends and infection dynamics as the season progresses.
8) Grazing management for parasite control
Grazing management will also have a bearing on worm control. Being proactive, and adapting to seasonal variations in grass growth will allow the most efficient use of pasture. However, remember that the majority of larvae on the pasture are very close to the ground, so grazing hard may increase the likelihood of parasite consumption.
9) Ongoing monitoring of cattle key for parasite control
Parasite control should be a key consideration when management decisions are being made, since failure to effectively control the risk in growing cattle will compromise their health and growth. Monitoring is also vital. Regular weighing of cattle will allow the performance of individual animals to be tracked and ensure that they don't fall behind targets. It also allows an indirect assessment of gutworm control to take place, since impaired growth in the face of good nutrition is often associated with a high parasite burden. Targeting parasite treatments at individuals that are failing to thrive can control gutworms effectively.
10) Adhere to best practice when worming
When worming treatments are administered, it is critical that best practice is observed. Accurate dosing can only be achieved if you have assessed the weights of the animals to be treated. To ensure that any parasite products you use to treat cattle are as effective as possible, you should:
- Maintain all equipment and cattle handling facilities
- Choose the most appropriate product for the worms present.
- Administer products at the right dose.
- Store and handle products safely and correctly.
- Consult the label and/or datasheet before using a product.
It’s also critical to make an assessment of the risk periods for different worms on your farm. Targeting the right worms at the right time will give predictable results and may mean re-treatment is less likely to be needed.
Safeguard future performance by understanding the worm dynamic of your farm
Understanding the parasite dynamic on your farm, and using this information to develop a season-long parasite control programme will ensure that the productivity and health of your cattle are maximised, whilst allowing sustainable, effective treatment decisions to be made and helping to safeguard future performance.
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