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Livestock & Forage
[Oct 28, 2016] COWS - Question and Answer - Controlling Cattle Parasites
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<blockquote data-quote="@COWSworms" data-source="post: 3844924" data-attributes="member: 56336"><p><strong><span style="font-size: 26px">Controlling parasites in cattle at grass</span></strong></p><p></p><p>Managing anthelmintic resistance through the responsible use of cattle wormers was the key take home message at a recent AHDB Beef and Lamb and COWS (Control of Worms Sustainably) farmer meeting.</p><p></p><p>Guest speakers at the event, spoke on the importance of understanding the lifecycle of cattle parasites, and managing parasitic challenges responsibly through grazing management strategies and the targeted use of wormers, taking into account different farm systems.</p><p></p><p>“Selecting for anthelmintic resistance of cattle parasites is inevitable,” explained Dr John Graham-Brown from the University of Liverpool, “This doesn’t mean we’re doomed, but it’s why initiatives such as COWS are so important to ensure the sustainable use of anthelmintics. </p><p></p><p>“The lifecycle of gutworms, lungworms and liver fluke mean that infected cattle will excrete infective eggs and larvae contaminating pastures. Consequently, there is a risk of animals being re-infected or youngstock in their first grazing season being exposed to high worm burdens, if this is not managed effectively. </p><p></p><p>“Controlling worm burdens via anthelmintics is often necessary. However, when we continue to use the same product repeatedly, for the same reason year-on-year, levels of worms with a gene that makes them resistant to said wormer will increase, hence wormers become less effective over time. </p><p></p><p>“Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be avoided, but it’s something the cattle industry can reduce and control to ensure resistance doesn’t become unmanageable. </p><p></p><p>“If we work collectively as an industry, we can stay one step ahead of resistance,” says Dr Graham-Brown.</p><p></p><p>Also speaking at the event, veterinary surgeon Rachel Hayton of Synergy Farm Health, spoke of the importance of using wormers responsibly, but also looking at grazing management strategies to help reduce the challenge and impact of cattle parasites in the first place. </p><p></p><p>“In beef cattle, gut worms are very common, and something I frequently diagnose. It’s a common cause of poor performing animals and one which can be very costly if left untreated. </p><p></p><p>“When it comes to controlling parasites, it’s important to consider a holistic approach. For example, recent research has proven that grassland management can provide a degree of parasite control without compromising production,” she says.</p><p></p><p>A recent paper published by Andy Forbes, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine and COWS technical representative, has re-emphasized that mixed aged grazing, rotational grazing and using low risk pastures such as silage and hay aftermaths have a role to play. </p><p></p><p>These tactics can reduce the exposure of naïve animals to high worm burdens which can subsequently increase daily live weight gain in youngstock. </p><p></p><p>“With anthelmintic resistance recognised as a potential risk to the cattle industry we can’t overlook the role that grassland management can play as part of a farms parasite control plan,” says Mrs Hayton. </p><p></p><p>“Cattle wormers are the mainstay to help keep on top of parasite burdens, but when choosing the right wormer, it must be suited to the situation.</p><p></p><p>“It’s important to consider the efficacy of the product, whether you have any resistance issues on-farm, and its spectrum of activity, as not all wormers are effective against all stages of parasite lifecycles. </p><p></p><p>“It comes back to the COWS 5 R’s to the effective use of cattle wormers. If anything, I would always make the point that farmers should be weighing every animal or using a weighband to calculate the correct dose each time, and always read the product label.</p><p></p><p>“This may sound simple, but they are key factors that are often forgotten and can result in cattle being under or over dosed,” says Mrs Hayton.</p><p></p><p>When it comes to implementing a bespoke parasite control plan, the key message at the meeting was to speak to you vet, SQP or veterinary pharmacist, and take note of the COWS best practice guidelines. </p><p></p><p><strong>Grazing management strategies*</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Mixed age grazing:</strong> It’s highly likely that older cattle have a more robust immunity to common gastrointestinal worms. As a result, they can tolerate infections better and excrete lower concentrations of worm eggs in their dung when grazing, potentially reducing the level of pasture contamination. Therefore, grazing naïve first season animals with older cattle may offset the risk of parasite burdens due to the reduced level of exposure. </p><p></p><p><strong>Leader-follower systems:</strong> This involves youngstock, in their first grazing season being grazed ahead of older cattle and moved to fresh pasture when the grass is grazed to a level that continues to provide adequate grazing for the cattle that are following on. As cattle rotate through the paddocks, so long as they remain on each paddock for less than three weeks, they should not be exposed to a high parasite challenge.</p><p></p><p><strong>Grazing low risk pastures:</strong> Silage and hay aftermaths that have not been grazed for 12 months provide a low risk option to move youngstock onto during early or mid-July. In this instance, susceptible cattle are moved to ‘clean’ pastures in advance of the peak larval season, and therefore the mid-season build-up of infective larvae is largely prevented. </p><p>*Forbes, A, 2016, Grassland management and helminth control on cattle farms, Livestock, Vol 22 No 1</p><p></p><p>For more information visit <a href="http://www.cattleparasites.org.uk" target="_blank">www.cattleparasites.org.uk</a> [ATTACH=full]520992[/ATTACH]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="@COWSworms, post: 3844924, member: 56336"] [B][SIZE=7]Controlling parasites in cattle at grass[/SIZE][/B] Managing anthelmintic resistance through the responsible use of cattle wormers was the key take home message at a recent AHDB Beef and Lamb and COWS (Control of Worms Sustainably) farmer meeting. Guest speakers at the event, spoke on the importance of understanding the lifecycle of cattle parasites, and managing parasitic challenges responsibly through grazing management strategies and the targeted use of wormers, taking into account different farm systems. “Selecting for anthelmintic resistance of cattle parasites is inevitable,” explained Dr John Graham-Brown from the University of Liverpool, “This doesn’t mean we’re doomed, but it’s why initiatives such as COWS are so important to ensure the sustainable use of anthelmintics. “The lifecycle of gutworms, lungworms and liver fluke mean that infected cattle will excrete infective eggs and larvae contaminating pastures. Consequently, there is a risk of animals being re-infected or youngstock in their first grazing season being exposed to high worm burdens, if this is not managed effectively. “Controlling worm burdens via anthelmintics is often necessary. However, when we continue to use the same product repeatedly, for the same reason year-on-year, levels of worms with a gene that makes them resistant to said wormer will increase, hence wormers become less effective over time. “Unfortunately, it’s not something that can be avoided, but it’s something the cattle industry can reduce and control to ensure resistance doesn’t become unmanageable. “If we work collectively as an industry, we can stay one step ahead of resistance,” says Dr Graham-Brown. Also speaking at the event, veterinary surgeon Rachel Hayton of Synergy Farm Health, spoke of the importance of using wormers responsibly, but also looking at grazing management strategies to help reduce the challenge and impact of cattle parasites in the first place. “In beef cattle, gut worms are very common, and something I frequently diagnose. It’s a common cause of poor performing animals and one which can be very costly if left untreated. “When it comes to controlling parasites, it’s important to consider a holistic approach. For example, recent research has proven that grassland management can provide a degree of parasite control without compromising production,” she says. A recent paper published by Andy Forbes, Honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine and COWS technical representative, has re-emphasized that mixed aged grazing, rotational grazing and using low risk pastures such as silage and hay aftermaths have a role to play. These tactics can reduce the exposure of naïve animals to high worm burdens which can subsequently increase daily live weight gain in youngstock. “With anthelmintic resistance recognised as a potential risk to the cattle industry we can’t overlook the role that grassland management can play as part of a farms parasite control plan,” says Mrs Hayton. “Cattle wormers are the mainstay to help keep on top of parasite burdens, but when choosing the right wormer, it must be suited to the situation. “It’s important to consider the efficacy of the product, whether you have any resistance issues on-farm, and its spectrum of activity, as not all wormers are effective against all stages of parasite lifecycles. “It comes back to the COWS 5 R’s to the effective use of cattle wormers. If anything, I would always make the point that farmers should be weighing every animal or using a weighband to calculate the correct dose each time, and always read the product label. “This may sound simple, but they are key factors that are often forgotten and can result in cattle being under or over dosed,” says Mrs Hayton. When it comes to implementing a bespoke parasite control plan, the key message at the meeting was to speak to you vet, SQP or veterinary pharmacist, and take note of the COWS best practice guidelines. [B]Grazing management strategies*[/B] [B]Mixed age grazing:[/B] It’s highly likely that older cattle have a more robust immunity to common gastrointestinal worms. As a result, they can tolerate infections better and excrete lower concentrations of worm eggs in their dung when grazing, potentially reducing the level of pasture contamination. Therefore, grazing naïve first season animals with older cattle may offset the risk of parasite burdens due to the reduced level of exposure. [B]Leader-follower systems:[/B] This involves youngstock, in their first grazing season being grazed ahead of older cattle and moved to fresh pasture when the grass is grazed to a level that continues to provide adequate grazing for the cattle that are following on. As cattle rotate through the paddocks, so long as they remain on each paddock for less than three weeks, they should not be exposed to a high parasite challenge. [B]Grazing low risk pastures:[/B] Silage and hay aftermaths that have not been grazed for 12 months provide a low risk option to move youngstock onto during early or mid-July. In this instance, susceptible cattle are moved to ‘clean’ pastures in advance of the peak larval season, and therefore the mid-season build-up of infective larvae is largely prevented. *Forbes, A, 2016, Grassland management and helminth control on cattle farms, Livestock, Vol 22 No 1 For more information visit [URL="http://www.cattleparasites.org.uk"]www.cattleparasites.org.uk[/URL] [ATTACH=full]520992[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]
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[Oct 28, 2016] COWS - Question and Answer - Controlling Cattle Parasites
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