As late summer approaches, effective parasite control becomes crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of your livestock, whether you’re managing dairy cattle, beef cattle, or sheep. Parasites, both internal and external, continue to pose significant threats during this period, and a proactive approach is essential to mitigate their impact. Here’s how you can manage parasite control effectively across all types of livestock as we transition into the cooler months.
Understanding the Late Summer Parasite Threat
Late summer presents unique challenges for parasite control. The combination of fluctuating temperatures, varying pasture quality, and potential overgrazing can increase the risk of parasite infestations in dairy cows, beef cattle, and sheep alike.
- Internal Parasites: Gastrointestinal worms such as roundworms, liver flukes, and tapeworms affect all types of livestock, leading to poor weight gain, decreased milk production, and overall health deterioration.
- External Parasites: Flies, ticks, and lice remain active during late summer, causing irritation, spreading diseases, and reducing animal comfort and productivity.
Strategies for Effective Parasite Control
Regular Monitoring and Fecal Egg Counts – Monitoring parasite levels through fecal egg counts (FEC) is a fundamental step in managing internal parasites across dairy, beef, and sheep herds. Regular FECs provide insights into the parasite burden and help guide treatment decisions.
- Conduct Fecal Egg Counts: Collect samples from a representative group of animals within each herd or flock and have them analysed. This helps determine whether treatment is necessary and which animals are most affected.
- Targeted Treatment: Use the FEC results to apply targeted deworming, reducing the risk of overusing anthelmintics and slowing the development of resistance.
Strategic Deworming – Strategic deworming during late summer can help manage the parasite load effectively before autumn. This approach is essential for all livestock, particularly young animals who are more vulnerable to parasite infections.
- Choose the Right Dewormer: Select a dewormer that is effective against the specific parasites identified through FEC. Consider rotating dewormers annually to prevent resistance.
- Timing is Key: Administer dewormers at the right time, particularly before the onset of cooler weather, to reduce the number of parasites that could overwinter.
Pasture Management – Proper pasture management is critical to reducing the risk of parasite infestations in dairy, beef, and sheep herds during late summer.
- Rotate Pastures: Rotating pastures regularly helps break the parasite life cycle by reducing the exposure of livestock to parasite larvae. This is important for all types of grazing livestock.
- Avoid Overgrazing: Overgrazed pastures can lead to higher concentrations of parasite larvae, especially close to the ground where livestock are more likely to ingest them. Ensure pastures are not overgrazed to minimize this risk.
Fly and External Parasite Control – External parasites such as flies, ticks, and lice can cause significant discomfort and spread diseases across dairy, beef, and sheep herds.
- Implement Fly Control Measures: Use fly control products like pour-ons across all livestock. These products can help reduce fly populations and minimise the stress they cause.
- Maintain Clean Facilities: Regularly clean barns, milking parlors, and feeding areas to reduce fly breeding sites. For sheep, ensure that areas where they are housed or handled are kept dry and clean to prevent lice and tick infestations.
Nutrition and Immune Support – A well-balanced diet helps boost the immune system of your livestock, enabling them to better resist parasitic infections. This is crucial for dairy cows producing milk, beef cattle growing for market, and sheep preparing for breeding or lambing.
- Provide Adequate Nutrition: Ensure all livestock have access to high-quality forage and balanced rations that meet their specific needs. This is particularly important as pasture quality declines in late summer.
- Supplement with Minerals: Provide mineral supplements that include elements like copper and selenium, which are important for immune function and overall health. Tailor these supplements to the specific needs of dairy, beef, or sheep herds..
Late summer is a critical time for parasite control across all types of livestock. By implementing a comprehensive parasite management plan that includes regular monitoring, strategic deworming, pasture management, and proper nutrition, you can protect your dairy cows, beef cattle, and sheep from the detrimental effects of parasites. Ensuring effective parasite control now will pay dividends as you move into the autumn and winter months.
For tailored advice on parasite control for your specific livestock, please consult your territory manager.