Discuss the following topics with your vet ahead of next year: For all gutworms, review your grazing plans each winter and try to identify some ‘clean grazing' to use for calves and youngstock during the early part of the year.
These animals are most susceptible to a parasite infection, so lowering the worm challenge helps reduce the impact on their growth.
Clean grazing includes fields which have not been grazed by cattle for the past 12 months or more, such as those used for silage, new leys or other rested pasture.
Review the incidences of lungworm on-farm.
If it is a known risk, plan and prioritise youngstock and other susceptible animals for vaccination before turnout.
Test housed cattle for liver fluke before turnout using faecal egg count tests. If positive, consider treating with a product which is effective against the adult stage of liver fluke to prevent egg output in spring and reduce pasture infectivity later in the season.
Use pooled faecal egg count tests in youngstock during the first few months of the grazing season to monitor infection and egg shed.
This information can help inform the timing of wormer treatments, which will, in turn, reduce egg shed on to pasture and help prevent youngstock from developing heavy worm burdens later in the grazing season.
Growth
Weighing calves and youngstock during the grazing season can also give you an indication of whether their growth is being hampered by a worm infection and help target any required wormer treatment at individual animals, rather than treating the whole group.
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IVOMEC® Super is a broad-spectrum, dual-active parasite control for cattle which treats and provides protection against reinfection from the most pathogenic gutworm species, including Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia spp. and the cattle lungworm, plus adult liver fluke, sucking lice and mange mites. |
IVOMEC® Super Injection for Cattle contains ivermectin and clorsulon. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: [email protected]. IVOMEC® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Nov 2023. UI-BOV-0129-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly
For more information, talk to your vet or suitably qualified person, visit beattheparasites.com or check out the Beat the Parasites Hub at farmersguardian.com/beattheparasites
This article is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
