A5 Q2 Torch Summer Magazine 2024 - Flipbook - Page 23
‘Last year we decided to monitor our 昀椀rst grazing heifers for worms throughout their grazing season,
rather than rou琀椀nely worming them as we have done in previous years. We tested them every 6
weeks and found they always had a low or no worm burden, therefore we didn’t have to worm them.
This was both cost and labour saving for us, with the added bene昀椀t of anthelmin琀椀c stewardship.’ J.
Hookway East Villavin Farm,
Youngstock su昀昀ering from excessive gut worm burden are also at risk during the
grazing season. These animals can lose weight and scour, having a huge impact on
produc琀椀vity. However, there can be warning signs before it gets too bad. During
the grazing season, monitoring gut worm burden by taking worm egg counts regularly and monitoring growth rates can allow us to detect lower levels of gut worm
burden, and target our treatment appropriately, reducing overall wormer use. High
worm egg counts are used to consider the risk for pasture contamina琀椀on as well as
clinical disease, and worming decisions can be aided by this informa琀椀on.
Another added bonus of regular monitoring is the informa琀椀on it provides for future years. For example, if egg counts are high in one par琀椀cular 昀椀eld, we can avoid
grazing 昀椀rst season grazers there in future, reducing the burden on our most naïve
grazing animals. Pasture management is also a key part of reducing wormer use.
Rota琀椀onally grazng youngstock and allowing the ground to rest will help keep
worm popula琀椀ons under control. Following youngstock with older, more resilient
ca琀琀le to act as a worm ‘hoover’ can also be bene昀椀cial, and if prac琀椀cal on your farm,
mob grazing where there is a longer break between grazings can break the parasite
lifecycle and dilute out the eggs le昀琀 on pasture.
There are many things we can do to reduce
wormer use in our ca琀琀le, and many reasons
we should do it. Give us a call or chat to your
vet at your next visit to see what ac琀椀ons
you can take to be琀琀er manage your grazing ca琀琀le.
Look out for our new worming service
COMING SOON!
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