News


Things to do this summer

Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd

Beef

  • Anthelmintic treatments can be administered to calves strategically during the first half of the grazing season to counter gut worm infections. The frequency of treatment depends on the persistency of the product used – speak to your vet or SQP about this
  • Summer is a good time to use faecal egg counts (FECs) to monitor gut worm infection in first and second season grazing calves. Assess condition and weight and provided nutritional needs are being met, consider further investigation if calves are failing to thrive. If FECs come back positive, but below the 200 eggs/gram threshold for treating, test again in two to three weeks, as FECs can rise quickly in July and August
  • All-group treatments provide strong selection pressure for anthelmintic resistance. An alternative is to take an evidence-based approach and give anthelmintics on information obtained from growth monitoring and faecal egg count (FEC) analysis. Assess the risk with your vet

Dairy

  • Summer is a good time to use faecal egg counts (FECs) to monitor gut worm infection in first and second season grazing calves. Assess condition and weight gain and provided nutritional needs are being met, consider further investigation of calves are failing to thrive. If FECs come back positive, but below the 200 eggs/gram threshold for treating, test again in two to three weeks, as FECs can rise quickly in July and August
  • Anthelmintic treatments can be administered to calves strategically during the first half of the grazing season to counter gut worm infections. The frequency of treatment depends on the persistency of the product used – speak to your vet or SQP about this
  • Graze youngstock on hay and silage aftermaths as they become available, as these fields will have a low parasite burden

Resources

Vet, academic or researcher?

Take a look in Resources for more detailed information on all topics.

For all editorial enquiries please contact Sara Gregson email: sara@saragregson.co.uk

Cows in a field with a line of trees in the distance

New Guidance from COWS – Integrated Parasite Control

 10th June 2020

The Control of Worms Sustainably in cattle (COWS) group has published the final chapter in its updated Guide, bringing together key technical messages from other new chapters on roundworms, lungworm, liver and rumen fluke and ectoparasites. The Guide sits at the core of the COWS initiative – outlining the latest science relating to parasite control … Continued

A field of cows

Liver fluke update from COWS and SCOPS

 12th May 2020

Last winter may have seen a relatively low incidence of fluke across the UK, but there are still individual farms reporting problems with chronic fluke in sheep warn SCOPS/COWS experts. Whilst the UK may be on lockdown due to COVID-19, livestock farmers are warned that liver fluke is carrying on as normal. Despite the relatively … Continued

Ostertagia in the abomasum of a young cow

Take sustainable approach to worming youngstock

 6th April 2020

Cattle farmers should ensure their approach to treating youngstock for roundworms (Ostertagia and Cooperia) is sustainable, so that resistance to products does not develop in the same way as it has in sheep, says Westpoint farm vet Emily Francis based in Winchester. “Where nutrition is good and there are no other diseases present, gastro-intestinal worms … Continued

Cows in a field under a partly cloudy blue sky

Supporting the cattle industry – from OvertheCounter

 6th April 2020

Cows at the top of a field sloping down behind them

NADIS Parasite Forecast March 2020

 2nd March 2020

Cows on a hillside field

Parasite control in cattle – from Grass and Forage Manager

 14th February 2020