[Oct 28, 2016] COWS - Question and Answer - Controlling Cattle Parasites

[llamedos]

Want to know more about controlling cattle parasites prior to and during winter housing? Why not join COWS (Control of Worms Sustainably) for a weeklong forum discussion on this hot topic, and get your questions answered by industry experts.

The @COWSworms team, will be on hand all week to answer your technical questions, so make sure you join us for the Q and A discussion starting Monday 31 October.

Schedule
• Friday 28 October – Thread opens for questions
• Monday 31 October, 12:00pm – COWS will start to answer questions and continue the discussion with Farming Forum members all week
• Friday 4 November, 12:00pm – Question and answer session ends

Some topics you may have questions on:
• Why is winter a key time for treating cattle for worms?
• What is the right product for the type of worm?
• What animals should be treated for worms?
• When is the best time to treat cattle?
• When should I treat cattle over winter?
• What is the best way to administer anthelmintics at housing?
• What are the non-chemical control methods to help control cattle worms?
• Who can I ask for advice?
• What are common signs of cattle parasites during winter housing

This is an open forum for discussion, so we look forward to having you join us for our Q and A session at the end of October.

In the meantime, don’t forget to join the AHDB webinar on the 13 October, from 7pm which will also focus on cattle parasite control around housing, which may give you some food for thought.https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/events/oc...parasite-control-around-housing/#.V_UGzGcVCzl

 

[llamedos]

Reminder, This thread will open for your questions to the team from @COWSworms this Friday

 

[llamedos]

Thread now open for any questions you may wish to put to the team from @COWSworms

 

[@COWSworms]

Welcome to our Q and A session on controlling cattle parasites around housing. This thread is now open for your questions, and COWS technical representatives will be on hand to respond from this coming Monday.
We will be checking the forum regularly and will endeavour to answer your questions as soon as possible.
We look forward to hearing your questions, and don't forget to follows us on twitter @COWSworms.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

What percentage of anthelmintics are now used as a pour on and are there any problems or issues with its use?
Would a drench be more effective?

 

[@COWSworms]

What percentage of anthelmintics are now used as a pour on and are there any problems or issues with its use?
Would a drench be more effective?

Thanks for asking the first question, and getting the ball rolling. Questions will be answered from Monday onwards.

 

[@COWSworms]

What percentage of anthelmintics are now used as a pour on and are there any problems or issues with its use?
Would a drench be more effective?

It is difficult to quantify the percentage of anthelmintic used as pour ons, but approximately 25% of licensed cattle anthelmintics are available as pour ons.
Little is currently known of the current status of anthelmintic resistance in cattle nematodes to the currently available products, and therefore its important to efficacy test (drench check), especially where there has been extensive of use of a single type of product.

No matter what type of anthelmintic is used, follow the COWS 5 R’s to reduce the risk of resistance issues in the future.
- The RIGHT product for the type of worm
- The RIGHT animal
- The RIGHT time
- The RIGHT dose rate
- Administered in the RIGHT way.

Make sure you speak to your vet, farm advisor, SQP or veterinary pharmacist to get farm specific advice.

 

[Skylark]

I've got some spring born calves to wean and house in the next few weeks but labour is a bit short so I was thinking of using a combi product to save handling them twice. They are coming off some rented river meadows which we're told have a history of fluke, if I dose at housing to reduce the lung worm burden will it also clear the fluke out too?

 

[@COWSworms]

I've got some spring born calves to wean and house in the next few weeks but labour is a bit short so I was thinking of using a combi product to save handling them twice. They are coming off some rented river meadows which we're told have a history of fluke, if I dose at housing to reduce the lung worm burden will it also clear the fluke out too?

Thanks for the question, we will be back with you with an answer in the morning. Does anyone else have a similar question?

 

[EHB]

Hi, is there a pour on for fluke that will cover all stages.. thanks.

 

[@COWSworms]

To worm or not to worm, that is the question. Have you got a lingering question about controlling cattle parasites that you want to know the answer to?
This is your opportunity to get asking......

 

[@COWSworms]

I've got some spring born calves to wean and house in the next few weeks but labour is a bit short so I was thinking of using a combi product to save handling them twice. They are coming off some rented river meadows which we're told have a history of fluke, if I dose at housing to reduce the lung worm burden will it also clear the fluke out too?

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately a combination product used at housing will not treat all stages of liver fluke as none of them cover the early, immature stages.
Check out the COWS guide to liver fluke for more information and speak to your vet, farm advisor, SQP or veterinary pharmacist to get advice specific to your stock and your farm.
http://www.cattleparasites.org.uk/guidance/COWS farmer fluke leaflet.pdf

 

[@COWSworms]

Hi, is there a pour on for fluke that will cover all stages.. thanks.

Hi,
None of the pour-on fluke products treat all stages of liver fluke in cattle. Although there is one product that contains triclabendazole, when used as a pour-on, this just treats immature liver fluke from 6-8 weeks. If this product is used soon after housing, early immature liver flukes could remain in the liver and repeat treatment may be necessary. Oral drenches that contain triclabendazole treat immature liver flukes from two weeks of age. Hope this helps?

 

[EHB]

Thanks, how long cattle must be inside for the product containing triclabenazole to work..if you know what I mean.

 

[pine_guy]

You mentioned using the correct product for the worm, we exclusively use ivermectin based pour ons and injections as a blanket treatment. We then treat for fluke after housing with a product appropriate to the elapsed time since housing.

My question is, am I contributing to a ivermectin resistance. And if so what other products should I be considering?

 

[llamedos]

A question for the team via our Twitter feed, from @greenvalelims.

"Thoughts on worming adult dairy cows at calving in the autumn if they were at grass while dry"

 

[@COWSworms]

A question for the team via our Twitter feed, from @greenvalelims.

"Thoughts on worming adult dairy cows at calving in the autumn if they were at grass while dry"

Thank you, we will make sure we get this answered.

 

[bovine]

When we have rapidly increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in sheep, and potentially emerging ML resistance in cattle, alongside triclabendazole resistance in fluke - should the industry be moving to testing animals and only treating them where necessary?

We have reliable tests for patent worm infections (WEC), we can use further testing for type 2 disease if suspected (pepsinogen bloods). We can look for fluke eggs, copra-antigen or liver enzyme changes for fluke. Targeted selected treatment has been shown to maintain growth rates in cattle.

I propose we should move entirely away from planned treatment and only treat animals where we have diagnosed the group with the condition, and then follow up with confirmatory tests to prove efficacy.

Does COWS have a view on this?

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

When we have rapidly increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in sheep, and potentially emerging ML resistance in cattle, alongside triclabendazole resistance in fluke - should the industry be moving to testing animals and only treating them where necessary?

We have reliable tests for patent worm infections (WEC), we can use further testing for type 2 disease if suspected (pepsinogen bloods). We can look for fluke eggs, copra-antigen or liver enzyme changes for fluke. Targeted selected treatment has been shown to maintain growth rates in cattle.

I propose we should move entirely away from planned treatment and only treat animals where we have diagnosed the group with the condition, and then follow up with confirmatory tests to prove efficacy.

Does COWS have a view on this?

That sounds very sensible. Something to do on a monthly routine farm visit perhaps during the season?

 

[Hampton]

I missed this thread.
Many of the drenches state that cows can't be treated in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Why is this and what is the best alternative?
@bovine can you answer this please if the q and a has finished?