Cattle Worming

PeterO · Post by **PeterO** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:47 pm

My Dexters have been virgin grass for the past 2 years ie it had only been used for horses and sheep by its previous owners. I have therefore never wormed the cattle (or used any form of medication other than Flypor).
The cows are in good condition but the steers seem a bit slow putting on bulk/condition.
Given the farming tendency to be 'proactive' should I be using a regular wormer etc etc if so against what and how often.

Thanks

Peter

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:02 am

When thinking about worming for any farm I think we need to have a wider view of parasites taking into account all external and internal parasites. I do not think that anyone who has not got first hand knowledge of your situation can give you valid advice so, surprise surprise, I have to say, contact your vet.
I could make stabs in the dark but might get it disastrously wrong. One issue which has raised its ugly head much more in recent times is liver fluke, which has been causing a lot of problems both in new areas and in classes of stock which people have previously not thought to be at risk. So to get a well informed source of advice I say "See your Vet"
Duncan

PeterO · Post by **PeterO** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:53 am

Thanks Duncan - what I was after was a bit of feedback on normal Dexter practice, for example, with horses you routinely worm twice a year.
My neighbouring farmer doesn't worm at all but this could just be cost cutting. At the risk of starting a war :;): , I feel a vet will recommend routine medication just in case.

Regards

Peter

Kathy Millar · Post by **Kathy Millar** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:49 pm

Peter, I haven't had to worm yet. Get your vet to do a fecal egg count and ask him about liver flukes. We don't generally have a problem with them but they can be really ugly.

Kathy

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:24 pm

I agree with Kathy. Contact your vet but take with you samples of dung collected from various parts of your fields. After testing he/she can then tell you what worms you have and if it is a safe level. Don't worry about being forced into a regime you don't like. It is just a sensible precaution.

Paula Edwards · Post by **Paula Edwards** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:33 am

Hi All,

A plug for organic parasite control. We have not "wormed" our Dexters for over 5 years. Instead, we employ a holistic approach to parasite control (note control, not eradication).

By having smaller paddocks and rotating the stock around them we are able to reduce reinvestation. We also feed copper sulphate and sulphur on a regular basis and dose the water points with copper sulphate to "kill" liver fluke.

Every year or so we have the vet check the fecal egg count and so far it has remained in the low level.

Another breeder nearby decided to go "cold-turkey" and stop dosing his cattle for parasites. He tells me that they looked pretty scaggly the first year, better the second and fine by the third, so the cattle do seem to develop an immunity to parasites as well.

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:15 am

People with cattle and sheep rotating and using the same water troughs might want to be very careful about what they do with extra copper. Has anyone tried growing wild garlic in a corner of fields? Just wondered?