Steps you should be taking now to protect your herd
Beef
Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains a macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms.
Blood test a group of first season grazing calves (as sentinels) two weeks after housing to check whether they have been in contact with liver fluke in the summer
The copro-antigen test or presence of fluke eggs in faeces can indicate liver fluke infection. These tests are best done about eight to twelve weeks after housing in older cattle. Use them around Christmas to see if treatment is required
Dairy
Check if youngstock needs worming for gut worms at housing using faecal egg counts (FECs). If infection risk is high, use a product that contains macrocyclic lactone (ML) to kill off inhibited Ostertagia worms to reduce the risk of Type ll ostertagiosis later in the winter. Adult cattle should not require any treatment for gut worms
Take a bulk milk sample to test if the milking herd has been exposed to liver fluke.
There is no natural immunity to liver fluke, so all ages of stock must be assessed for treatment where there is a history, or risk of infection. Check fluke forecasts and use abattoir returns to monitor presence of fluke
Resources
Vet, academic or researcher?
Take a look in Resources for more detailed information on all topics.