Beef producers step up fluke fight
Farmers are taking tougher action when it comes to treating for fluke this year following unprecedented rainfall, which has increased fluke burden on pastures.
Beef farmer James Evans of Shropshire believes liver health is a key part of maximising efficiency and productivity.
He treated his herd of 250 Stabiliser cows for liver fluke four weeks after housing in December to ensure he killed all stages of fluke.
He is awaiting blood results, which will tell him if the treatment has worked, so he can treat again if it hasn’t before he turns the cows out this spring.
He says it is becoming increasingly important to test his animals, as resistance is a growing problem and wet weather has exacerbated parasite burden.
Mr Evans usually treats his cows only once, at housing. However, he is considering treating them twice to ensure the cows are in tip-top condition at bulling.
“I’m contemplating whether or not I should do it mid-summer,” he admits.
“The seasons are changing and we are getting milder winters so there may be of chance of cattle picking up fluke during the summer [if they’ve over wintered] and this may hinder breeding when cows come back bulling.
“There are many factors why cows don’t get in calf, but that could be on of them.”
Suckler producer Simon Frost from Derbyshire says there is an absolute need on his farm to fluke cattle. Although Mr Frost doesn’t fluke at turnout since it has never been a problem during this period, he routinely flukes both cows and calves twice a year in August and mid-October.
He says: “We have been fluking cows and calves for four years as some of our ground is wet. We never used to bother, but then we would see a problem.”
Mr Frost targets his treatment around risk periods and treats for fluke in August as this is also a risk period for other parasites, such as lungworm, which the product he uses also covers. He then treats cows and calves again in mid-October to remove fluke at housing.
“Having healthy cows and calves is critical to the golden triangle of production, which includes health, genetics and nutrition. If we had a fluke problem we wouldn’t be able to meet our 1kg a day daily livestock gain target. There’s a need to treat to maintain performance,” he says.
VET ADVICE ON TREATING FLUKE
- Farmers who have killed all stages of fluke at housing (by doubling treating or delaying treatment to ensure all stages of fluke have been killed) are being advised to treat again 10 weeks post-turnout to remove adult fluke and minimise pasture contamination this spring.
- However, if animals havent been treated with a flukicide at housing, or if the product used hasnt effectively killed all stages of fluke, farmers should treat before turnout to prevent them excreting eggs onto the pasture and adding to the problem.
- There are two reasons why the product may not have worked this season; fluke worms could either be resistant and there isnt a product that kills all stages of fluke.
- To be certain the product has worked farmers should conduct faecal egg counts or request liver feedback from abattoirs.
- Out wintered cattle should be treated now to remove infections.
- It is paramount farmers speak with their vet and implement a tailored parasite control programme for the forthcoming grazing season to ensure they are treating effectively.
Information provided by practicing farm vet Robert Howe, of Lambert Leonard and May Farm Vets, in Lancashire (part of XL Vets).