Feirm Journal
#Liver Fluke
Animal Health
Winter Dosing for Cattle: A Practical Guide for Irish Farmers
Winter housing provides one of the best opportunities of the year to get on top of parasites in cattle. During the grazing season, cattle can pick up stomach worms, lungworm and liver fluke from pasture. Once cattle are housed, exposure to many of these parasites stops, making the winter period an ideal time to assess parasite burdens and, where necessary, treat animals. However, effective winter dosing is no longer simply about giving every animal the same dose at housing. The right approach depends on the parasites present on your farm, the age and type of cattle, previous treatment history, diagnostic results and the stage of the parasite you need to control. Getting it right can protect animal health, feed efficiency and winter performance while also helping to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance.
Farming Advice
Test, Don’t Guess: Faecal Egg Count Testing for Worms & Fluke
Fast, in-house parasite testing for Irish cattle and sheep farmers When was the last time you checked whether your cattle or sheep actually needed a worm dose? For many years, routine dosing at set times throughout the grazing season was common practice. But parasite control is changing.